Construction and demonstration of acute rejection model after orthotopic liver transplantation in rats

Objective To establish an acute rejection rat model of orthotopic liver transplantation.Methods With a modified two-cuffed technique,orthotopic liver transplantation was performed in Lewis(RTl1) to Brown Norway(BN,Rt1n) rats.The rats in experimental group(n=15) were not specially treated,while the rats in control group(n=15) were given FK506 0.2 mg·kg-1·d-1 by gastric gavage during 1-7 days after operation.Postoperative living status of rats was observed and postoperative hepatic function,cytokine,hepatic acute rejection and liver cell apoptosis were detected and compared between two groups.Results The rats in experimental group survived averagely(9.17±1.17) days,which was shorter than(50.17±8.50) days in control group(P0.05).All indicators of liver function,expression levels of IFN-γ and IL-2,RAI in hepatic tissues and the apoptosis number of liver cells of rats after operation were obviously higher,but IL-4 and IL-10 were lower,in experimental group than those in control group(P0.05 or P0.01).Conclusion The acute rejection rat model of orthotopic liver transplantation established between inbred line rats with Lewis rats as donors and BN rats as receptors is an ideal acute rejection model with strong and stable rejection.