The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in fatty acid composition of lipids of plasma, erythrocytes, and liver microsomes in rats with liver cirrhosis induced by oral intake of thioacetamide and to determine to what extent the experimental model reproduces the fatty acid tissue alterations reported in human cirrhosis. Two groups of rats were studied. The control group received water ad libitum, and the experimental group received 0.03% w/v thioacetamide in drinking water for 2, 4, and 6 months. At these times, lipids of plasma, erythrocytes, and liver microsomes were extracted, and their fatty acid compositions were determined. Thioacetamide intake led to macronodular and micronodular cirrhosis at 2 months. These alterations progressed at 4 months and eventuated in liver tumors at 6 months. Thioacetamide-treated rats showed a drop in total plasma fatty acids, higher percentages of palmitic acid in all lipid fractions, and lower levels of stearic acid in erythrocyte lipids and liver microsomal phospholipids. Oleic acid increased in plasma cholesteryl esters and phospholipids, as well as in erythrocyte lipids and liver microsomal phospholipids. In plasma lipids and liver microsomal phospholipids, the percentages of arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acids decreased. The latter also decreased in erythrocyte lipids. In addition, liver microsomes showed a higher cholesterol/lipid phosphorus molar ratio. The experimental model of cirrhosis obtained by intake of thioacetamide in drinking water for 4 months reproduces many of the fatty acid tissue alterations that appear in human cirrhosis and may serve to ascertain the biochemical mechanisms involved in these changes.
We conclude that the simultaneous supply of long-chain fatty acids of the omega-3 and the omega-6 series can be beneficial to improve the fatty acid status of this experimental model of liver cirrhosis.
The selection of donors for living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is one of the most important features in this kind of surgery. The aim of this study is to describe our initial experience in the donor evaluation process. From December 2001 to January 2005, 104 donors were evaluated for 70 recipients (65 potential donors were evaluated for 39 adult recipients, and 39 donors for 31 pediatric recipients). Only 30 donors were able to donate: 13 for the adult group, and 17 for the pediatric one. In general, the utilization rate of potential donors was 28.8% (30/104). For the adult patients, 65 potential donors were seen to perform 13 LDLT, which represents a utilization rate of potential donors of 20%. For the pediatric patients, this rate was 43.6%. The exclusion criteria were clinical in 22 cases (21%), anatomical in 13 cases (13%), psychosocial in nine cases (9%), and others in 12 (12%). Death of recipients led to exclusion 18 of donors (17%). Thirty-three percent of adults and 55% of pediatric recipients who had at least one potential donor to start the evaluation process were able to identify a living donor. In conclusion, the first limit for LDLT is the rigorous donor evaluation.
Patients with liver cirrhosis frequently show some degree of protein-energy malnutrition and obviously require nutritional support. In this study, the treatment of rats consisted of the ad libitum oral intake of a 300 mg/liter thioacetamide solution, used as drinking water for four months. Thioacetamide treatment produced a severe alteration in the plasma fatty acid profile with significant decreases of these, which mimicked changes described in human cirrhosis. This hepatotoxic agent causes nodular cirrhosis, with loss of the normal architecture of the liver and disruption of the vascular pattern. The goal of the study was to evaluate the influence of n-3 and n-6 series long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid dietary supplementation in experimental animals and to assess the effects of those dietary components on structural recovery in the liver. Significant increases of saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids as well as n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids were seen only in the animals given the n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid supplemented diet. However, only rats given the standard diet exhibited some degree of histological regeneration.
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