title: Portacaval shunt control animals: physiological consequences derived from the sham operation.
abstract: The portacaval shunt in the rat is a frequently used experimental model of portosystemic encephalopathy. Among other consequences of this surgical preparation is an important decrease in hepatic and testicular volume. Different sham-operation methods including a laparotomy were used as controls in each case. Given that the liver volume varies greatly in comparison to body weight in the sham-operated animals, this paper aims to evaluate the possible consequences of the sham operation. It concludes that control animals without manipulation, in addition to the respective controls of portacaval shunt, should be used in every case.
authors.affiliation: Psychobiology Laboratory, Psychology Faculty, University of Oviedo, Spain.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Burgos
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Santín
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Begega
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arias
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lorente
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Arias
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology*