Investigation of abnormal regeneration of hepatic autonomic nerve after partial hepatectomy in the presence of type 2 diabetes

Abstract Objectives To explore the evaluation of abnormal regeneration of hepatic autonomic nerve in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients after partial hepatectomy by non-invasive sweat gland function detection. Methods The contents of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) in regenerating liver tissue were quantified both in db/db mice (diabetes mice) and healthy control (db/+) mice with immunohistochemical method. Sweat gland function of the footpad in left hind foot was tested with iodine and starch reagents. The PGP 9.5 in sweat gland of the footpad in right hind foot was also examine. Analyze the correlation between the sweat gland function of mice’s footpad and the specific nerve markers in the regenerating liver. Results Nerve fibers immunoreactive to TH and PGP 9.5 were both observed in the two groups. There was no significant difference between the two groups in PTs (positive portal tracts, PTs). On the contrary, there was a significant difference between db/ + and db/db groups in the positive TH nerve fiber density ( t = 4.682, P = 0.000) and the positive PGP 9.5 nerve fiber density ( t = 4.149, P = 0.000). There was a significant difference between the two groups in the number of sweating spots ( t = 6.530, P = 0.000). Furthermore, the difference between the two groups in the PGP 9.5 positive fibers of sweat gland nerve fiber density (SGNFD) ( t = 3.647, P = 0.001) was significant. Both the PGP 9.5 positive fibers in sweat gland of footpad and sweating spots were significantly correlated with the PGP 9.5 positive fibers in liver. Conclusions There is probably a correlation between the function of sweat gland in footpad and the function of autonomic nerve in liver, which will potentially establish a new standard or judgment for the preoperative evaluation and prognosis of partial hepatectomy in T2DM patients.