Stimulation of oval cell and hepatocyte proliferation by exogenous bombesin and neurotensin in partially hepatectomized rats

Table 2 Morphometric analysis of oval cell presence and proliferation (marker-positive oval cells per high power field) (mean ± SD)

Markers	Control (I) (n = 10)	Sham (II) (n = 15)	PHx (III) (n = 15)	PHx + BBS (IV) (n = 15)	PHx + NT (V) (n = 15)
CK19 protein	1.65 ± 0.31	1.63 ± 0.28	6.22 ± 0.82a	18.51 ± 2.31b	19.37 ± 3.48b
AFP mRNA	1.34 ± 0.25	1.31 ± 0.21	5.45 ± 0.91a	16.32 ± 1.81b	17.53 ± 4.12b
Ki67 protein	1.28 ± 0.14	1.26 ± 0.11	5.22 ± 0.11a	15.61 ± 2.54b	16.64 ± 3.59b

^aP < 0.001 vs sham;

^bP < 0.001 vs partial hepatectomy (PHx). BBS: Bombesin; NT: Neurotensin; AFP: α-fetoprotein.