A simplified single stage total hepatectomy in the rat with maintenance of gastrointestinal absorptive function

Abstract

A technique is described to remove the entire liver in a single stage with preservation of intestinal absorptive function. An inverted V-shape polyethylene cannula, either heparin bonded or silicon coated, was inserted into the portal vein and inferior vena cava to maintain venous return from the splanchnic and lower caval regions of the anhepatic rat. Blood glucose fell at a rate of 7 to 11 mg per hr per total plasma volume (4% body weight), usually resulting in hypoglycemia within the initial 2 hr. Euglycemia could be maintained in the first 3 hr after hepatectomy with hourly intravenous infusions of 2.5 to 5 mg per 100 gm body weight of glucose. Larger infusions of glucose (10 to 12.5 mg per hr per 100 gm body weight) were necessary for normal levels at later times. A 0.5 gm per 100 gm rat weight intestinal glucose bolus restored euglycemia for at least a 2-hr interval. Intestinal absorption of cholesterol and oleic acid was demonstrated in the anhepatic rat, although the latter was not so efficiently absorbed as in the control. The plasma cholesterol decreased with time in the anhepatic rat. Prompt increases were observed in plasma free fatty acid and glycerol concentrations after hepatectomy. Progressive increases in both direct and indirect plasma bilirubin levels were noted after hepatectomy. With appropriate maintenance of blood sugar, survival of 36 hr was observed. This procedure for single stage total hepatectomy in the rat can be performed in less than 30 min. The model is particularly useful for studies of the influence of the liver on postabsorptive metabolism.

A half century (1961-2011) of applying microsurgery to experimental liver research

“…Total hepatectomy in the rat requires constructing a microsurgical portacaval shunt because this animal can only tolerate portal flow interruption for a maximum of 20 min [49] . Various techniques for creating an anhepatic rat have been described [46,49,50] . Total hepatectomy in the rat can be performed in one, two or three stages [46,69] .…”

Monitoring of microhemodynamic changes during ex vivo xenogeneic liver perfusion using intravital microscopy

“…It must be remembered, however, that the survival time of recipients, especially after xenogeneic liver transplantation, is not a sensitive measure of graft function. It is known that an anhepatic rat can survive for several hours [38]. The reason for the high perfusion pressure and low bile production in the CVF group is not known.…”

Plasma cholesterol transport in anhepatic rats.

“…The hepatectomy was performed by a method previously described from this laboratory (8), which involved the insertion of a prosthesis between the portal vein and vena cava in a one-stage procedure removing the entire liver. An intraarterial line was inserted with glucose and albumin infusions provided to avoid hypoglycemia (8) usually at 2 h after surgery, and sequential blood samples were obtained. Both control and anhepatic rats were maintained in restraint during those studies.…”

“…A mixture of 50 mg of triolein, 25 mg of monolein, and 25 mg of oleic acid containing [5][6][7][8][9][10] ,uCi [4-'4C]cholesterol was infused into the duodenal cannula and the intestinal lymph was drained overnight at 4°C. The chylomicrons were incubated with red cell ghosts to minimize their content of radiolabeled free cholesterol, and the depleted chylomicrons were used on the same day of their collection.…”

“…The presence of necrotic viscera in situ with potential plasma contamination makes interpretation of these data difficult. A hepatectomy model (8) that entails removing the liver while preserving the remaining splanchnic viscera results in survivals in days rather than hours. This model permits longer-term evaluations ofanhepatic plasma cholesterol transport.…”