A novel in situ model of liver cold ischemia–reperfusion in rats

• Published in: The Journal of surgical research 2014-11, Vol.192 (1), p.195-199
• Main Authors: Li, Rui, MD, Mi, Yuetang, MD, PhD, Tan, Gang, MD, PhD, Zhang, Wei, MD, Li, Guixia, MD, Sun, Xueying, MD, PhD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Central Venous Pressure - physiology; Cold Ischemia - methods; Cold ischemia reperfusion; Decompression, Surgical - methods; Disease Models, Animal; Hepatic Artery - physiology; In situ liver cold ischemia; Liver; Liver Transplantation - methods; Male; Orthotopic liver transplant; Portal Vein - physiology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Reperfusion Injury - pathology; Reperfusion Injury - physiopathology; Reperfusion Injury - surgery; Surgery; Vena Cava, Inferior - physiology
• ISSN: 0022-4804; 1095-8673
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2014.05.042

Abstract Background Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) is being used for studying cold ischemia reperfusion (I/R)-induced injury in experimental animals, but the technique is complicated and it does not accurately reflect the pathophysiology. Here, we report a novel model, termed “ in situ liver cold ischemia (ISLCI)”, in Wistar rats. Methods ISLCI was achieved in rats by establishing a portal-jugular shunt and a cannula shunt in inferior vena cava, and the liver was continuously perfused with lactate Ringer's solution at a speed of 150 mL/h through the portal vein for 60 min. Portal venous pressure, serum levels of total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine aminotransferase and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), and hepatic histopathology were examined, and compared with rats undergoing OLT, in which the donor liver was subjected to a 60 min cold ischemia. Results Livers from ISLCI and OLT rats showed histopathologic changes characteristic of I/R-induced injury when examined on days 1 and 7, with complete recovery 14 d after reperfusion. Compared with OLT rats, ISLCI rats had significantly lower levels of portal venous pressure 1 and 10 min after porta hepatis clamping. They suffered a milder degree of I/R-induced hepatic injury, reflected by significantly lower levels of GGT, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase on day 1, and a significant lower level of GGT and a lower histopathologic score on day 7 after reperfusion. Conclusions Our preliminary results indicate that the ISLCI model is reliable and technically easier, and is superior to OLT for studying cold I/R injury.