The Need to Handicap the Recipient′s Native Liverin the Rat Model of Heterotopic Auxiliary LiverTransplantation

Abstract

In the rat model of heterotopic auxiliary liver transplantation (HALTx), the opinion varies

Effects of Re-Arterialization on Early Graft Function and Regeneration in the Rat Model of Heterotopic Auxiliary Liver Transplantation

“…In the two experimental groups, the incorporation rate of 3 [H]thymidine into nuclear DNA increased after the transplantation and showed a peak value on post-operative day 2. The mean value of the DNA synthesis rate in the HALTx-A group was significantly higher than that in the HALTx-nonA group (791 B 113 vs. 471 B 151 dpm !10 -3 /Ìg DNA, p !…”

“…At each time point, 8 HALTx recipients of each experimental group were sacrificed under ether anaesthesia. 3 [H]thymidine (specific activity 26 Ci/ mmol, Amersham Pharmacia Biotech Benelux, Roosendaal, The Netherlands), 0.2 mCi/g body weight, was injected intravenously 2 h before sacrifice. The patency of the hepatic arterial anastomosis, whenever relevant, was examined.…”

“…The liver was then flushed with cold physiological saline via the portal vein. The right lobes of the engrafted liver were frozen in liquid nitrogen for determining the DNA synthesis rate by the incorporation rate of 3 [H]thymidine into nuclear DNA, while the left lobes and the recipient's native livers were kept in formalin for histological evaluation. The DNA fraction was extracted following the procedures described elsewhere [15].…”

“…The DNA fraction was extracted following the procedures described elsewhere [15]. The radioactivity of 3 [H]thymidine was measured in a liquid scintillation counter, and the DNA concentration of the same homogenate was determined by the standard method of colorimetric readings at 700 nm, using calf thymus DNA (Boehringer Mannheim GmbH, Mannheim, Germany) as the standard. The DNA synthesis rate was expressed as dpm !10 -3 /Ìg DNA.…”

“…Besides the role of hepatotrophic factors in maintaining hepatocyte integrity [2], other mechanisms may also have an influence on the inter-liver competition. In a previous study, we showed that a certain degree of handicap on the native liver was needed to weaken its functional position and to prevent atrophy of the graft [3]. It was evidenced that if the native liver was kept intact, the engrafted liver did eventually atrophy and was replaced by connective tissue [4].…”