An experimental study on histomorphological and functional changes in hepatic lobe with deprivation of bile duct / 解放军医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the residual functions in the hepatic lobe with deprivation of bile duct by observation of histomorphological and functional changes in the hepatic cells in a rat model. Methods The right hepatic bile ducts of rats were obstructed with cyanoacrylate and then ligated two weeks after the left and caudate lobes were removed. The lobus quadratus hepatis served as self-control with or without portal vein ligation. The venous blood from individualized liver lobe was examined and histological observation was done to examine the histomorphological and functional changes in the hepatic cells. Results Compared to the controls of both sham operation and untreated lobe, the hepatic lobe with bile ducts deprived did not undergo atrophy significantly with few ultrastructural changes. The hepatocytes of the hepatic lobe with bile duct deprived contained plenty of mitochondria, ribosomes and rough endoplasmic reticulum when observed under transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results of periodic acid-Schiff staining revealed normal glycogen metabolism in the hepatic cells. No significant decrease was detected in the serum albumin and fibrinogen concentrations by examination of blood collected from vein of this liver lobe with deprivation of bile ducts. Conclusions The liver lobes with bile ducts deprived retain most of the liver functions such as protein synthesis and nutrition metabolism, and show no atrophy during the observation period. It is suggested that the hepatic lobes with bile duct deprived still possess the value of preservation. The present study has founded a theoretic basis for remaining the remaining liver lobes with bile duct deprived or ligated in some emergency and specific clinical situations.