The rat model of graft cholangiopathies established by cold preservation or chronic rejection

Abstract

Objective To develop rat models of graft cholangiopathies and evaluated their values.Methods Four groups were constructed.The long-term cold preservation group(n=24) contained homogeneic inbred rat liver orthotopic transplantations (ROLT) performed in a rat combination of ♂ Wistar→ ♂ Wistar with the donor liver preserved in 4℃ UW for 12 h,the vessels reconstructed by the two-cuff method,and the hepatic artery and extrahepatic bile duct rebuilt by a stent.The chronic rejection group (n=24)(CsA 1 mg · kg-1 · d-1,cold preserved for 1 h) was allogeneic inbred ♂ DA→♂ Lewis rats induced for ROLT,and the revascularization methods were the same as the longterm cold preservation group.The control group (n=24) (cold preserved for 1 h) was homogeneic inbred ♂ Wistar→♂ Wistar rats with ROLT techniques the same as above.The sham group (n=24)was ♂ Wistar rats that had an exploratory laparotomy.The animals were followed for 16 weeks,complications were compared,and liver tissues were harvested.Histopathological and morphometric techniques were used to construct a time course of histological changes after liver transplantation.Results In both the long-term cold preservation group and chronic rejection group,the rats recovered slowly,the incidence of complications and mortality were higher than those of other groups,and the intrahepatic bile duct proliferation and immune cell infiltration were noticeable after the operation.In 16 weeks,the hepatic lobules were separated by the proliferating bile ducts,the normal structure of hepatic lobules disappeared,many biliary epithelial cells necrosed with disappearing cytoplasms,and there was immune cell infiltration and obliterative arteriopathy.Conclusions The rat models of graft cholangiopathies induced by long-term cold preservation or chronic rejection donor livers are stable and easily standardized.This model is ideal for studying the pathogenesis and prevention of graft cholangiopathies. Key words: Rat model; Graft cholangiopathies; Cold preservation; Chronic rejection