Objective To decrease the operative difficulty, with the purpose of looking for an orthotopic liver autotransplantation model which not only materializes the liver transplantation but also possesses higher survival rate. Methods This model was established via portal vein perfusion in thirty rats, and from which the result of the liver after perfusion, the operative time and the survival rate were observed. Liver tissues were researched at 24 h after operation under the light microscope. Results This model was easy to be perfused, the operative time was (48±3.0) min and the survival rate was 96.7% (29/30). The structure of hepatic tissue was basically normal with a little hydropic degeneration under the light microscope. Few erythrocytes residual occurred in the interlobular arteries under the light microscope. Conclusion The orthotopic liver autotransplantation model via portal vein perfusion has an exclusively blockage pattern which possesses a higher survival rate. It prevents the injury of immunological rejection and purely reflects the hepatic ischemia-reperfusion. But it is better to be applied in the non-hepatic artery anastomosis or the research nothing to do with the hepatic artery because the hepatic artery does not have sufficient perfusion.
Objective To investigate the protection on the intrahepatic cholangiocyte mediated by hypoxic preconditioning (HP) after liver transplantation and the role of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Methods The model of autologous liver transplantation was established, and the rats were divided into 3 groups: autologous liver transplantation group, hypoxic preconditioning before operation group (HP group) and sham operation group. At 6, 12, 24, 48 h after operation, blood samples were collected for examination of the serum total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and the expression of VEGF was detected by immunohistochemical method. The pathological changes of cholangiocytes were observed by light microscope. Results As compared with autologous liver transplantation group, the levels of seurm TBIL, DBIL and ALP in HP group were lower (P＜0.05), while the expression of VEGF in HP group was higher at the whole process (P＜0.05). The degrees of billiary epithelium damage and inflammatory infiltration in autologous liver transplantation group were more severe than those in HP group. Conclusion HP has protective effect on cholangiocytes after liver transplantation, in which VEGF may play an important role.