Significance of arterial reconstruction on the model of small size orthotopic liver transplantation in rats

Objective To investigate the significance of arterial reconstruction on the model of 40% small size orthotopic liver transplantation in rats.Methods Modified two-cuff technique was applied to establish a rat model of 40% orthotopic liver transplantation.A total of 96 sprague dawley(SD)rats were randomly divided into 2 groups:small size orthotopic liver transplantation with arterial reconstruction group(group A)and small size orthotopic liver transplantation without arterial reconstruction group(group B).One week survival rate,main indexes of liver function,histology and the expression of the proliferative cell nuclear antigen(PCNA)of liver graft by immunohistochemical method were detected on the 1st,2nd,4th and 7th day after transplantation,respectively.Results One week survival rate of group A and group B was 66.7% and 50.0% respectively(P0.05).Alanine aminotransferase(ALT)and total bilirubin(TB)began to elevate from the first day and peaked on the second day after surgery.The leavels of ALT in group B on the fourth and seventh day were higher significantly than those in group A(P0.05).The levels of TB in group B on the second and seventh day were higher significantly than those in group A(P0.05).Histological findings indicated that more diploid and polyploid hepatocytes could be seen in group A.The expression of PCNA of liver graft peaked on the 2nd day after surgery.The expression of PCNA of group A was higher on the first day and lower on the 7th day than that of group B after operation(P0.05).Conclusions Arterial reconstruction can improve the function of liver grafts after small size orthotopic liver transplantation,alleviate the histological changes and promote the regeneration of liver grafts quickly.