Impacts of portal vein arterialization on liver regeneration in rats with liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Objective To investigate the impacts of portal vein arterializations (PVA) on the liver regeneration in rats with liver cirrhosis. Methods Fifty rats with liver cirrhosis model were randomly divided into PVA group (n=40) and control group (n=10) according to the random number table method. Rats in PVA group underwent PVA+portocaval shunt. Rats in control group received no treatments. The ratio of hepatic wet weight to body weight, the hepatocyte percentage of positive proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and hepatocyte percentage in DNA synthesis phase (S phase) in each group were measured at the time of 1 week (T1), 2 weeks (T2), 4 weeks (T3) and 8 weeks (T4) after operation or enrolling in the group. Parameters of every time points inside the group were compared by one-way analysis of variance and pairwise comparison was conducted by LSD-t test. Comparison between groups was conducted by t test. Results The ratio of hepatic wet weight to body weight at T1,T2,T3,T4 in PVA group [(3.72±0.26)%, (3.81±0.27)%, (3.83±0.31)%, (3.78±0.31)%] were significantly increased compared with that in control group [(2.84±0.37)%] (t=6.11,6.64,6.49,6.17; P<0.05). The hepatocyte percentage of positive PCNA at T1, T2, T3, T4 in PVA group [(76±6)%, (69±8)%, (20±5)%, (15±4)% ] were significantly increased compared with that in control group [(11±2)%] (t=34.48, 22.87,5.69,2.93; P<0.05). The hepatocyte percentage of positive PCNA at different time points inside the PVA group decreased gradually as time extended, where significant difference was observed (F=316.20, P<0.05). The hepatocyte percentage in S phase at T1, T2, T3, T4 in PVA group [(27.0±1.2)%, (20.5±1.4)%, (16.2±1.3)%, (13.5±1.3)%] were significantly increased compared with that in control group [(11.6±1.9)%] (t=21.97, 12.15, 6.30, 2.68; P<0.05). The hepatocyte percentage in S phase at different time points inside the PVA group decreased gradually as time extended, where significant difference was observed (F=208.00, P<0.05). Conclusions PVA can effectively promote liver regeneration in rats with liver cirrhosis and the effect declines as time extends. Key words: Hepatic cirrhosis, experimental; Portal vein arterialization; Portacaval shunt, surgical; Liver regeneration; Rats