[Histopathological changes in rat transplanted hepatoma after lipiodol transarterial embolization].
OBJECTIVE
To study the histopathological effect of hepatic arterial infusion of lipiodol on transplanted hepatoma in rats.


METHODS
Fourty-one rats bearing Walker-256 transplanted hepatoma were randomly divided into embolization group (n = 35, divided in 5 subgroups, with 7 rats in each) and control group (n = 6). Lipiodol (0.5 ml/kg)emulsified with 0.2 - 0.3 ml of 76% urografin (v:v = 1:1) was infused via gastroduodenal artery into hepatic artery in embolization group. Rats in the control group were given via the same route urografin only. Histopathological changes of the treated tumors were examined by light and transmission electron microscopy.


RESULTS
In the control rats treated with urografin alone, the average tumor size increased 2.8 fold on day 3, while that in the lipiodol treated rats increased 1.7 fold (P < 0.01). Compared with the control group, on day 3, 5, 10 after embolization treatment, tumor necrosis was more extensive (P < 0.01). In one of the treated rats, the tumor was completely necrotic on day 10. Inflammatory reaction was marked in the early post-embolic period, but it was replaced by fibrous tissue encapsulation. From day 1 on, in 17 of the 18 treated rats, apoptotic cells, identified by typical morphology under light and electronic microscopes, were observed, mainly in the tumor periphery.


CONCLUSIONS
In addition to cellular necrosis, apoptosis may be another important mechanism leading to cell death in hepatoma treated with transarterial embolization.
Depatment of Radiology, The No. 2 Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310009, China. jiangbiaohz@hotmail.com
Biao
B
Jiang
Qi
Q
Lou
Xin-fa
XF
Ding
Xiao-ying
XY
Sa
Li-rong
LR
Chen
Shao-yong
SY
Yu
Ming
M
Chao
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D002279:Carcinoma 256, Walker / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D016461:Chemoembolization, Therapeutic; D007459:Iodized Oil / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D007459:Iodized Oil