A Quarter Century of Liver Transplantation: Learning from Livers

Liver transplantation has emerged as a powerful tool to increasethe understanding of physiological and pathophysiological processes in the liver.Transplantation for metabolic diseases with resolution of the disease process hasbeen the ultimate proof of the hepatic source of the defect. Recurrence of theprimary disease in the liver following transplantation has furthered understandingof the pathogenesis of hepatitis and the cell biology of hepatobiliarytumours. The role of genetics and immune factors in the pathogenesis of alcoholicI iver disease may be clarified with the increasing numbers of patients transplantedfor alcoholic cirrhosis. Normal gallbladder motility in the denervatedtransplanted liver questions the role of neuronal influences on gallbladderfunction. Finally, experimental liver transplantation in animals has been used asa tool to study metabolic problems