Factors related to biliary complications after orthotopic liver transplantation in rats

Abstract

Objective To study the influencing factors of biliary complications after rat orthotopic liver transplantation and to provide evidence for establishment of more stable animal models. Methods Eighty-seven male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into bile duct to bile duct reconstruction transplant group, bile duct to duodenal reconstruction transplant group, bile duct to bile duct reconstruction non-transplant group with hepatic artery ligation, bile duct to bile duct reconstruction non-transplant group, bile duct to duodenal reconstruction non-transplant group with hepatic artery ligation, bile duct to duodenal reconstruction non-transplant group and sham-operated group, including 48 rats in transplant groups, 36 in non-transplant groups and 3 in sham-operated group. The samples were collected 14 d after the operation or right on the time any significant biliary complication was found. The occurrence and the severity of biliary complications were judged through the gross anatomy, pathologic and serologic changes, and were compared in different groups. Results The incidence of biliary complications was 69.6% in transplant groups, which was much higher than that in non-transplant groups (25.0%) and sham- operated group (0%) with statistically significant differences (both P<0.05). Bile duct to duodenal reconstruction groups had more biliary complications than bile duct to bile duct reconstruction groups both in transplant groups and non-transplant groups (90.9% vs 50.0%, 38.9% vs 11.1%, both P<0.05). In non-transplant groups, higher incidence of biliary complications was found in the groups with hepatic artery ligation than in the others (38.9% vs 11.1%, P<0.05). Conclusion The animal model of rat orthotopic liver transplantation established with classical two cuff method may not appear to be perfect and yet remains necessary for further modification. Bile duct to duodenal reconstruction is not shown to be an ideal rat model of orthotopic liver transplantation. Key words: Liver transplantation; Postoperative complications; Models; animal; Serologic analysis; Rats