A NEW METHOD FOR RAT ACCESSORY HEPATIC TRANSPLANTATION - THE CERVICALAPPROACH

Current methods for accessory liver transplantation in the rat require a high degree of microsurgical expertise and long training before suc cess is achieved. We present a simpler method of arterialized accessor y liver transplantation using the cervical vessels for revascularizati on of the transplanted liver with the cuff technique, which is useful for studies of liver preservation, reperfusion injury, and liver regen eration. After classical 70% hepatectomy is performed on the graft, th e right common carotid artery is anastomosed to the donor aorta, the d istal right external jugular vein is anastomosed to the donor portal v ein, and the proximal right external jugular vein is anastomosed to th e donor supradiaphragmatic inferior vena cava. The skin is not closed over the cervically transplanted liver (CTL). This method was used 30 times for periods of up to 6 h with a 90% success rate. CTL structure and function, as revealed by histology, bile flow rates, biliary bilir ubin concentrating capacity, membrane potential, enzyme activity and d istribution, have shown the CTL to be a structurally normal and metabo lically active graft. In conclusion, the cervical approach to arterial ized accessory liver transplantation is simple, and should prove usefu l for studies of liver preservation, reperfusion, regeneration, physio logy, and toxicology.