The influence of cold preservation on the microcirculation of intrahepatic bile duct after liver transplantation

Abstract

To discuss the influence of cold preservation on intrahepatic biliary microcirculation. Male Sprague Dawley (SD) rats were divided into 3 groups:cold preserve 1 h group (CP 1 h group), cold preserve 24 h group (CP 24 h group) and sham operation group (SO group). Five time points were determined as 0 h, 1 h, 6 h, 24 h and 72 h postoperation. Morphology was observed under light microscope. Dark microspheres were injected into hepatic artery and the number of microspheres in liver portal areas was measured under light microscope. The expressions of eNOS, ET-1 and ICAM-1 in microvascular endothelial cells of hepatic portal area were measured by immunofluorescence double staining technique and in situ hybridization histochemistry. The histological changes of intrahepatic bile duct were more severe in CP 24 h group than in CP 1 h group. The number of microspheres in implanted liver portal areas was increased significantly in CP 24 h group than in CP 1 h group at the same time point. Compared with CP 1 h group, the expression of eNOS in CP 24 h group significantly reduced after liver transplantation, while the expressions of ET-1 and ICAM-1 in CP 24 h group were significantly increased after liver transplantation. The changes of their mRNA expressions were the approximately same as well as their proteins expressions. Cold preservation brings obvious changes of intrahepatic biliary microcirculation and function of vascular endothelial cell after liver transplantation. The obstruction of microcirculation might play an important role in the reperfusion injury after cold preserve of intrahepatic biliary during liver transplantation.