Regulation of Endocan in homeostasis of liver regeneration after 70% hepatectomy in rats

Aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between endocan and liver regeneration, angiogenesis and endostatin following 70% hepatectomy in rats. Material and Method: In this study, the tissue vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), endostatin and endocan levels and serum endocan, endostatin levels in the liver remaining after 70% hepatectomy in 64 rats are evaluated in Day 0,1,2,3,5,7, 10 and 14. Results: It is determined that the proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) peaked on day 3 (PCNA- median: 80%, p = 0.049 and VEGF- median: 3, p = 0.003) and that the VEGF decreased to the baseline on day 5 (p = 0.126) and the PCNA reached the baseline on day 10 (median: 20%, p = 0.005). It is determined that the serum endostatin level peaked on day 1 (p <0.0001), reached the baseline on Day 10 (p> 0.1) and the serum endocan activity peaked on day 2 (p <0.01), and reached the baseline on day 10 (p> 0.1). Discussion: The fact that serum endocan protein level is observed to be parallel with the VEGF and the PCNA, and that endocan reaches baseline on the day when the regeneration is complete suggested that endocan may play a role in angiogenesis and regeneration. Keywords: Liver, Regeneration, Angiogenesis, Endocan, Endostatin