Our study provides in vivo evidence of an increased angiogenesis in the mesenteric microvasculature of animal models of PHT and cirrhosis. Increased VEGF and eNOS expression in the mesentery of PPVL and CBDL rats may suggest their contribution. Microvascular permeability in the mesenteric vessels was only increased in cirrhotic rats.

The characterization of mice models of portal hypertension (PHT) is lacking in the literature. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to make a histological approach during development of PHT in two models of cirrhosis with PHT compared with one model of isolated PHT. The model of isolated PHT was developed by partial portal vein ligation (PPVL). Two portal hypertensive cirrhotic mice models were developed either by common bile duct ligation (CBDL) or administration of carbon tetrachloride (CCl(4)) subcutaneously (twice weekly, 1 ml/kg). These models represent, respectively, a secondary biliary cirrhosis and alcoholic cirrhosis. Mice were killed at several time points to evaluate liver changes by histological and ultrastructural methods. A correlation was made with portal pressure measurements. Histology revealed the absence of fibrosis or cirrhosis in PPVL mice. They developed an isolated portal hypertension. After CBDL induction, the mice developed the characteristics of cirrhosis after 6 weeks, with simultaneous increase in portal pressures. Fifty percent of the mice had ascites at that time point. Sixteen weeks after administration of CCl(4), a micronodular cirrhotic aspect of the liver was seen associated with signs of portal hypertension. This is the first descriptive study of three widely used animal models in mice, allowing the study of pathophysiological changes in cirrhosis and portal hypertension. The PPVL in mice leads to a model of isolated portal hypertension. Secondary biliary cirrhosis developed after 6 weeks of common bile duct ligation in 50% of the mice that developed ascites. Subcutaneous injection of CCl(4) for 16 weeks induces cirrhosis and portal hypertension, without ascites. Moreover, the present study is the first description of a cirrhotic model in mice developed by subcutaneous injections of CCl(4). Well-described mice models will facilitate use of knock-out or transgenic mice and lead to a better understanding of the underlying molecular pathways in the field of portal hypertension and cirrhosis.

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SummaryThis intravital fluorescence microscopy (IVFM) study validates cirrhotic mice models and describes the different intrahepatic alterations and the role of angiogenesis in the liver during genesis of cirrhosis. Cirrhosis was induced by subcutaneous injection of carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) and by common bile duct ligation (CBDL) in mice. Diameters of sinusoids, portal venules (PV), central venules (CV) and shunts were measured at different time points by IVFM. Thereafter, liver samples were taken for sirius red, CD31, Ki67, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and a-smooth muscle actin (a-SMA) evaluation by immunohistochemistry (IHC). In parallel with fibrogenesis, hepatic microcirculation was markedly disturbed in CCl 4 and CBDL mice with a significant decrease in sinusoidal diameter compared to control mice. In CCl 4 mice, CV were enlarged, with marked sinusoidal-free spaces around CV. In contrast, PV were enlarged in CBDL mice and bile lakes were observed. In both mice models, intrahepatic shunts developed gradually after induction. During genesis of cirrhosis using CD31 IHC we observed a progressive increase in the number of blood vessels within the fibrotic septa area and a progressively increase in staining by Ki67, VEGF and a-SMA of endothelial cells, hepatocytes and hepatic stellate cells respectively. In vivo study of the hepatic microcirculation demonstrated a totally disturbed intrahepatic architecture, with narrowing of sinusoids in both cirrhotic mice models. The diameters of CV and PV increased and large shunts, bypassing the sinusoids, were seen after both CCl 4 and CBDL induction. Thus present study shows that there is angiogenesis in the liver during cirrhogenesis, and this is probably due partially to an increased production of VEGF.