Successful hepatic grafting after partial portal vein ligation in the rat - Complete reversal of hemodynamic abnormalities

Backgrounds. Partial portal vein ligation (PPVL) is an established approach in the study of prehepatic portal hypertension in animals. The effect of o rthotopic liver transplants (OLT) on hemodynaanics in PPVL animals has not been investigated to date. The aim of this study was to develop a model of OLT in PPVL rats and to investigate its hemodynamic consequences, Methods. Three groups of male Lewis rats were investigated (1) control anim als (n=7), (2) PPVL (n=9), and (3) PPVL/OLT (n=16). Three weeks after PPVL, 9 animals were taken for hemodynamic measurements. OLT was performed in th e remaining 16 PPVL rats (PPVL/OLT), and, 4 weeks later, hemodynamic measur ements were made. Blood biochemical analysis was performed at different tim e points in all 3 groups. Results. The PPVL animals presented with hyperdynamic systemic circulation, extensive collateral vascularization in the hilar region, and portal-syste mic shunting (portal systemic shunting; 35.3+/-5.5%). In the PPVL/OLT group , 15 rats survived for 4 weeks (survival: 93.8%, 15 of 16), Of these PPVL/O LT rats, 3 died during the blood sampling protocol. In 3 PPVL/OLT rats, abn ormal liver function and histology were found and deranged systemic and hep atic hemodynamics persisted after OLT, In the remaining 9 PPVL/ OLT rats, s ystemic and hepatic hemodynamics had returned to normal at 4 weeks and port al systemic shunting was markedly reduced (2.5+/-0.9%), Liver function was in the normal range, Conclusions. (1) The possibility of performing OLT in PPVL rats with a high rate of survival has been confirmed, (2) In the majority of cases, complet e reversal of hemodynamic abnormalities in the PPVL animals occurs after OL T (3). PPVL/OLT represents a new and important model in OLT research.