Summary
Effects of the environmental microflora on rat liver were studied in the present investigation. Rats born under sterile conditions were bred either in a germfree or in a “SPF” environment. At 12 weeks of age the liver of the SPF rats was larger by 20% and contained more DNA than germfree rat liver. Volume analysis, by means of a particle counter, of isolated nuclei suggested that the increase of DNA was due to an increase of hepatic nuclear ploidy. The findings show that infections may influence liver size and ploidy. They indicate that the state of infection should be controlled in animal studies which concern the regulation of liver growth and ploidy or which use liver weight and DNA as reference standards.
Zusammenfassung
In der vorliegenden Arbeit werden Einflüsse der Mikroflora auf die Rattenleber beschreiben. Die Ratten wurden unter sterilen Bedingungen geboren und entweder in einer keimfreien oder einer «SPF»-Umgebung aufgezogen. Im Alter von 12 Wochen wurden die Tiere getötet. Die Leber de SPF-Ratten war um 20% größer und enthielt mehr DNA als die Leber der keimfreien Ratten. Volumenanalyse an isolierten Zellkernen mittels eines Partikelzählgerätes ergab, daß die Zunahme der DNS auf einer Zunahme der Ploidie der hepatischen Zellkerne beruht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, daß Infektionen die Lebergröße und die Kern-Ploidie im Organ verändern können. Der Infektionsstatus der Versuchstiere sollte daher bei Untersuchungen kontrolliert werden, die die Regulation von Leberwachstum und Ploidisierungsvorgängen betreffen oder in denen Gewicht und DNS-Gehalt der Leber als Bezugsgrößen verwandt werden.
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Hermann, R.S., Deerberg, F. & Landgraf, H. Changes in size, DNA content, and nuclear ploidy of rat liver produced by the environmental microflora. Virchows Arch. B Cell Path. 20, 71–76 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02890327
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02890327