Bile Duct Stent and Strain Selection Influences Long-Term Survival of Mouse Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Abstract

Although mouse orthotopic liver transplantation (MOLT) is considered the gold standard in basic liver transplantation research, only a handful of transplantation research centers can establish the MOLT model reliably and reproducibly. Besides techniques and instruments, some nontechnical factors determine the outcomes of MOLT. This study aimed to investigate the influence of different bile duct stents and mouse strains on the long-term survival rate of MOLT. Varying donor-recipient-bile duct stent combinations were applied to groups 1-6 (G1, B6J-B6J-PP tube; G2, B6J-C3H-PP tube; G3, B6J-B6J-1.5XPE10 tube; G4, B6N-C3H-1.5XPE10 tube; G5, B10-C3H-1.5XPE10 tube; G6, B6N-C3H-1.25XPE10 tube) to value their effect on the long-term survival of MOLT. Liver transplantation was performed based on these experimental designs. The survival state was monitored for 3 months. The 1-month survival rate of G1 and G2 was 14.3% and 70%, respectively. The 1-month survival rate of G3 was 80%, which had no significant difference compared with G2. Both G4 and G5 had a favorable 1-month survival rate of 100%. The 3-month survival rate of G3, G4, and G5 was 0%, 25%, and 80%, respectively. G6 had the same 1-month and 3-month survival rates as G5, which were 100% and 80%. This study suggests that C3H mice were better recipient selections than B6J mice. Donor strains and stent materials are also important factors for the long-term survival of MOLT. An ideal long-term survival of MOLT could be achieved by a rational donor-recipient-stent combination.