Impact of Hepatic Rearterialization on Orthotopic Liver Transplantation in Mice

Objective To investigate the effects of hepatic artery reconstruction in orthotopic liver transplantation of mice. Methods Following double-cuff liver transplantation in mice,we performed end-to-side anastomosis of the abdominal aorta attached donor hepatic artery with the abdominal aorta of the recipient (experimental group)to set up hepatic artery reconstruction. Meanwhile,non-reconstruction control group (control group)was established. 70 cases of orthotopic liver transplantation in mice were completed and the survival rates at 48 h,1 week and 1 month after the surgery,as well as the hepatic function,histopathological changes,hepatocytes regeneration/apoptosis and expres- sion of inflammatory mediators were compared between these two groups. Results The survival rate of 1-month in experiment group was 88.3%,but in control group was 73.3%,in contrast to control group,reconstructed hepatic artery can raise 1-month survival rate,remarked(P 0.01).At 1 week postoperatively,the ALT level of experimental group [(926.8±36.458)U/L]was significantly higher than that of control group[(546.8±74.58)U/L,P 0.01],but at two- and four-week after operation,the ALT level of control group[(179.6±7.536)U/L,156.4± 16.041)U/L]was significantly higher than that of experimental group[(88.4±8.336)U/L,(66.2±20.512)U/L,P 0.01]. Liver tissue pathology showed necrotic patches of hepatic cells and hyperplasia of small bile ducts in the control group,while in experimental group,hepatic cells mostly underwent degeneration,and hepatic tissue structure returned back to normal at 1 month after the surgery. Postoperative hepatocytes regeneration significantly increased in the control group. Conclusion Hepatic artery reconstruction in mice orthotopic liver transplantation can significantly improve the long-term survival rate of the recipient,promote restoration of liver function,protect hepatocytes and significantly reduce the incidence of biliary complications,but it has no significant impact on inflammatory reaction of the recipient after transplantation.