ABSTRACT
Objective To establish a rat liver transplantation model under direct vision of single operator and to explore the effect of different perfusion methods on the quality of the donor liver. Methods On the basis of the "two-cuff method" established by Kamada, the operation details were improved to established the rat liver transplantation model. The recipient rats were divided into two groups according to different perfusion methods, group A (perfusion via abdominal aorta) and group B (perfusion via portal vein). The perfusion effect, operation time, operation success rate, postoperative liver function, liver graft pathological manifestations and survival were compared between the two groups. Results There were more residual red blood cells in sinus hepaticus in group B than in group A after perfusion. Both the donor liver perfusion time and donor operation time were longer in group A than those in group B, and the differences were statistically significant (both P < 0.01). The success rate of operation in group A and group B was 77% and 71%, respectively. At 3 d after liver transplantation in rats, the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and total bilirubin (TB) of the rats in the two groups were significantly higher than normal. At 7, 30 d after operation, compared with group A, the levels of ALT, AST and TB in group B were significantly increased, and the differences were statistically significant (all P < 0.01-0.05). The liver pathological examination showed that the degree of inflammatory reaction in the liver and degree of destruction of liver tissue in group B were more severe than those in group A, but there was no significant difference in long-term survival rate between the two groups. Conclusions Although the perfusion time and donor operation time of rat liver transplantation model were slightly prolonged by means of abdominal aorta perfusion, the perfusion effect was better, which can reduce liver tissue damage after operation and restore liver function to normal levels more quickly.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Potential of liver regeneration after living-donor liver transplantation is closely associated with the recipient's prognosis, whereas exogenous gene might regulate the liver regeneration progress. NM23 is a multifunctional gene, which inhibits tumor metastasis and regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, development, and apoptosis; however, there is little research about NM23 in promoting liver cell proliferation. METHODS: To investigate the effect of NM23-E2 on the liver cell proliferation, the NM23-E2 overexpression vector or negative control vector was transfected into BRL-3A cells and donor liver, respectively. NM23-E2, Cyclin D1, and PCNA expression levels in BRL-3A cells and liver tissues were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis. Cell Counting Kit-8 was used to detect cell proliferation and flow cytometry for investigating cell cycle. The liver regeneration rate was determined by calculating (regenerated-liver weight of recipient - liver weight of donor/liver weight of donor) × 100%. RESULTS: NM23-E2 overexpression increased the NM23-E2, Cyclin D1, and PCNA levels significantly in BRL-3A cells and liver tissues (P < 0.05). The number of S phase cells was more than that of negative control group, and cell proliferation rate was higher than that of the control group in BRL-3A cells markedly (P < 0.05). Moreover, the liver regeneration rate in the NM23-E2 overexpression group was also higher than that in negative control group on postoperative day 1, day 3, day 5, and day 7. CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of NM23-E2 can increase Cyclin D1 and PCNA expression, shorten cell cycle, and thereby promoting the proliferation of liver cells and accelerating the regeneration of liver after 40% decreased-size rat liver transplantation.
