Long-term fate of heterotopic liver transplants in rats with portal vein inflow only

Previous studies have suggested that hepatic arterial flow in heterotopic p artial liver transplants is necessary to ensure graft survival and regenera tive capacity. This report presents findings in a syngeneic rat strain (Lew is) that partial liver transplants can be successfully heterotopically tran splanted in the long term with the only inflow coming from the portal vein. When the host liver undergoes a nearly complete resection at 3-4 weeks, th e transplanted liver regenerates to maintain the health of the host. Modera te to massive hepatocellular necrosis occurs in the first 3 months postoper atively, with recovery by 4-5 months, Liver transplants 8-10 months postope ratively appear architecturally normal. No host liver tissues were found to be regenerating after subtotal host liver resection. We conclude that port al vein reconstruction without hepatic arterial inflow can sustain a partia l liver transplant in the long term, replacing the function of the host liv er. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.