Effect of portacaval shunts or transposition on hepatic blood flow and function in normal and cirrhotic dogs

In cirrhosis, the phagocytic function of the reticuloendothelial system (RES) is decreased. In order to investigate the mechanisms of the hepatic reduced phagocytic activity present in cirrhosis, the hepatic and splenic uptake of ⁵¹Cr sheep red blood cells (SRBC) and of colloidal carbon was measured in three groups of Sprague-Dawley rats. Group 1 consisted of 42 control rats, group 2 of 36 rats with end-to-side portacaval shunt and group 3 of 24 rats with carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis. The hepatic uptake of ⁵¹Cr SRBC and of colloidal carbon was significantly (p < 0.001) reduced in cirrhotic rats (group 3). Conversely, in rats with a portacaval shunt and a noncirrhotic liver (group 2), the hepatic uptake of ⁵¹Cr SRBC was moderately reduced, whereas the colloidal carbon hepatic uptake was not found to be decreased. These results suggest that the decreased RES phagocytic activity observed in cirrhotic rats is only partially due to portacaval shunt and that an intrinsic defective activity of hepatic phagocytic cells is probably present.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Decreased Reticuloendothelial Phagocytic Capacity in Cirrhotic and Portacaval Shunt Rats

Capron-Laudereau¹,

Gugenheim²,

Gigou³

et al. 1987

“…Other workers have reported that PCT produces little change in hepat ic function in dogs with carbon tetrachloride (CC14) induced cirrhosis, al though some degree of improvement in function, in particular an increase in serum albumin, has been observed [7,8,18], In a recent study Kreuzer and Schenk [16], investigating the effects of PCT on dogs with dimethylnitrosamine-induced cirrhosis reported decreases in serum alanine aminotransferase and bilirubin but no significant improvement in other LFTs, such as bromsulphalein retention, although actual values were not presented. Any improvement in hepatic function after PCT must be relat ed to the degree of liver damage produced prior to this operation and to the cessation of administration of the hepatotoxin.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A similar rationale can be applied to por tacaval transposition (PCT) which has been performed in cirrhotic dogs [7,18] and in children with glycogen storage diseases [24,27], Studies in dogs with carbon tetrachloride-induced cirrhosis have shown that the val ues of liver function tests (LFT) are not altered by PCT [7], but the de gree of cirrhosis produced by this technique was relatively mild as sug gested by the normal hepatic blood flow before PCT.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Portacaval Transposition on Hepatic Function in Dogs with Obstruction to the Hepatic Venous Outflow

Baker¹,

Shields²

1975

Complete hepatic venous outflow obstruction (COB) in dogs resulted in impairment of hepatic function and cellular injury. Thus both the serum albumin concentration and the plasma clearance of indocyanine green (ICG) were reduced, whilst serum glycoproteins, aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase levels were increased. Partial outflow block (POB) resulted in less severe functional changes although a significant decrease in serum albumin was also observed.The changes in liver function in dogs with portacaval transposition (PCT) and COB were generally similar to those in dogs with COB alone. However, the increases in serum enzyme activities and the decrease in plasma clearance of ICG were greater in the group with PCT. A late improvement in the clearance of ICG in dogs with COB and PCT was probably related to retrograde portal flow. When the hepatic lesion was only moderate (POB) PCT had little effect on either the liver function tests or plasma clearance of ICG, although no improvement in function was observed. It is concluded that PCT has no beneficial effect on dogs with either severe or moderate hepatic lesion and may cause further functional deterioration.

“…H eer et al [4] have shown that dogs after portacaval transposition maintained near normal hepatic blood flow. The average blood ammon ia level in these dogs 3 months after surgery was 69.0 ,»g% as compared to 178.0 ,«g% in dogs with end-to-side portacaval shunt.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Portarenal Transposition upon Ammonia Clearance in Dogs

Ono¹,

Brown²,

O'Hara³

et al. 1974