title: Portal vein arterialization increases hepatocellular apoptosis and inhibits liver regeneration.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Portal vein arterialization is performed in particular situations to guarantee sufficient blood flow in the portal vein. In addition, some authors have postulated a proliferation-promoting influence of portal vein arterialization on the liver tissue. However, portal vein arterialization is an unphysiological procedure: It increases portal blood flow and blood pressure as well as oxygenation of the liver tissue. On the other hand, it reduces the influx of hepatotrophic factors from the portal venous blood. The aim of these experiments was to investigate apoptosis and proliferation of hepatocytes during various conditions of the portal perfusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  After 70% liver resection in Lewis rats, the following four experimental groups were formed differing in portal perfusion: (I) hyperperfused, nonarterialized; (II) flow-regulated, nonarterialized; (III) hyperperfused, arterialized; (IV) flow-regulated, arterialized. A warm ischemia of 30 min was kept in all groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Portal vein arterialization of 70% reduced rat livers significantly reduced liver regeneration as shown by a significant reduction in liver weight, body weight, and liver function after 6 wk, in contrast to the group with 70% liver mass reduction and portal venous inflow of the portal vein. Furthermore, we found a significantly elevated number of apoptotic hepatocytes after portal vein arterialization. These results were independent from blood flow regulation of the arterialized portal vein, which caused no improvement of the results.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Portal vein arterialization should be performed only temporarily and is clinically not recommended as a permanent option, because of the increased hepatocellular apoptosis and the very distinctive, negative long-term effects on liver weight.
authors.affiliation: Department of Visceral and Vascular Surgery, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany. Karina.Schleimer@uk-koeln.de
authors.forename: Karina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schleimer
authors.forename: Dirk L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Stippel
authors.forename: Hans U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Kasper
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Prenzel
authors.forename: Cindy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gaudig
authors.forename: Samir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tawadros
authors.forename: Arnulf H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Hoelscher
authors.forename: K Tobias E
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Beckurts
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew