Vascular endothelial growth factor in improving liver function of rats following partial liver transplantation

Abstract

Objective To determine the impact of exogenous vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) on rat liver function after partial liver transplantation. Methods Male SD rats which had undergone 30% partial liver transplantation were divided into VEGF treatment group (n=60) and control group (n=60). Animals in each group were injected with solution of VEGF or saline, respectively. Serum ALT, AST, and hyaluronic acid (HA) levels were assessed at 0, 12, 24, 72, 168 hours after operation. Results Serum ALT, AST and HA levels were significantly decreased at 72 hours after transplantation in VEGF treatment group compared with controls (t =4.681, 4.252, 2.853, P<0.05). In accordance with liver function, treatment with VEGF minimized the damage to the liver sinusoidal endothelial cells and decreased the infiltration of inflamatory cells. Conclusion Administration of VEGF may improve the liver function of rats after partial liver transplantation by maintaining the integrality of the sinusoidal structure and reducing the inflamation reaction. Key words: Liver transplantation; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Rat