Auxiliary heterotopic liver transplantation in the rat: A simplified model using cuff technique and application for congenitally hyperbilirubimemic Gunn rat

Abstract

To study the immunological and metabolic effects of auxiliary liver transplantation (ALT), a simple ALT model in rats was developed using the cuff application. Effects of transient parking of normal liver were tested in congenitally hyperbilirubinemic Gunn rats. Serum bilirubin concentrations in Gunn rats, transplanted heterotopically with normal livers of Wistar rats, were dramatically reduced and maintained within normal levels. The graftectomy was performed safely 1 month after transplantation, but total bilirubin levels did not return to the preoperative value of the Gunn rats. It is possible that hepatic stem cells included in ALT liver migrated to the host liver and differentiated into cells capable of producing certain enzymes.

Simplified method of heterotopic rat heart transplantation using the cuff technique: Application to sublethal dose protocol of methotrexate on allograft survival

“…The outflow block of the graft also is lethal in the heterotopic liver-grafted recipient. 9 The original Heron's method, in which the graft receives blood from the aorta and outflow from the pulmonary artery, remains somewhat difficult for beginners to master because of anatomical factors. The pulmonary artery is located in a relatively deep site and is short in length.…”

“…Using the cuff method, this cervical auxiliary heart graft improved vascular anastomosis, with the advantage of no bleeding at the anastomosis site and easy examination of the graft beating. We have developed a cuff technique in rats [5][6][7][8][9] , with a considerable number of HHT performed at our center. [10][11][12][13][14] In these extensive series, we suggest that the initial experience of cuff method could be acquired through rat HHT procedures in the neck for a basic understanding of vessel anastomosis, using the cuff.…”

Rat auxiliary liver transplantation without portal vein reconstruction: Comparison with the portal vein‐arterialized model

“…2A) was performed as previously reported. 7,8 Briefly, the portal vein and IVC of the graft were connected with the recipient's renal artery and renal vein, respectively. Bile drainage was achieved by connecting the bile duct of the graft with the left ureter of the recipient as in group 2.…”

“…Assessment. Because loss of the graft does not of necessity lead to the death of the recipient, 8 the survival days of the graft were not determined by the death of the recipient, but rather by palpating the graft daily, open exploration of the graft weekly, and biopsy if needed. The urine was collected continuously for 10 hours, using a metabolic cage on postoperative days 1, 2, 3, 4, and 7, and then once a week.…”

“…The outflow was fulfilled by connecting the inferior vena cava (IVC) of the graft with that of the recipient, using a hand-suturing technique. Kobayashi et al 8 further simplified the procedure by adopting two cuffs for both inflow and outflow vessels. Thus, a very high success rate of more than 90% was achieved during the period immediately after ALT.…”