Premium
Long‐term fate of heterotopic liver transplants in rats with portal vein inflow only
Author(s) -
Yoo Chang H.,
Wang Yuqin,
Ha Joseph,
Mao Lan,
Kim Sung,
Tarin Tatum,
Wolf Paul,
Youngkin Tyler P.,
Brems John J.,
Gittes Ruben F.,
D'Silva Milbhor,
Lee Sun
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
microsurgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.031
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1098-2752
pISSN - 0738-1085
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2752(1999)19:2<78::aid-micr7>3.0.co;2-w
Subject(s) - medicine , portal vein , surgery , vein , liver transplantation , liver regeneration , necrosis , transplantation , regeneration (biology) , biology , microbiology and biotechnology
Previous studies have suggested that hepatic arterial flow in heterotopic partial liver transplants is necessary to ensure graft survival and regenerative capacity. This report presents findings in a syngeneic rat strain (Lewis) that partial liver transplants can be successfully heterotopically transplanted in the long term with the only inflow coming from the portal vein. When the host liver undergoes a nearly complete resection at 3–4 weeks, the transplanted liver regenerates to maintain the health of the host. Moderate to massive hepatocellular necrosis occurs in the first 3 months postoperatively, with recovery by 4–5 months. Liver transplants 8–10 months postoperatively appear architecturally normal. No host liver tissues were found to be regenerating after subtotal host liver resection. We conclude that portal vein reconstruction without hepatic arterial inflow can sustain a partial liver transplant in the long term, replacing the function of the host liver. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. MICROSURGERY 19:78–82 1999