Imaging evaluation of the liver using multi-detector row computed tomography in micropigs as potential living liver donors.
The shortage of organ donors has stimulated interest in the possibility of using animal organs for transplantation into humans. In addition, pigs are now considered to be the most likely source animals for human xenotransplantation because of their advantages over non-human primates. However, the appropriate standard values for estimations of the liver of micropigs have not been established. The determination of standard values for the micropig liver using multi-detector row computed tomography (MDCT) would help to select a suitable donor for an individual patient, determine the condition of the liver of the micropigs and help predict patient prognosis. Therefore, we determined the standard values for the livers of micropigs using MDCT. The liver parenchyma showed homogenous enhancement and had no space-occupying lesions. The total and right lobe volumes of the liver were 698.57 +/- 47.81 ml and 420.14 +/- 26.70 ml, which are 51.74% and 49.35% of the human liver volume, respectively. In micropigs, the percentage of liver volume to body weight was approximately 2.05%. The diameters of the common hepatic artery and proper hepatic artery were 6.24 +/- 0.20 mm and 4.68 +/- 0.13 mm, respectively. The hepatic vascular system of the micropigs was similar to that of humans, except for the variation in the length of the proper hepatic artery. In addition, the diameter of the portal vein was 11.27 +/- 0.38 mm. In conclusion, imaging evaluation using the MDCT was a reliable method for liver evaluation and its vascular anatomy for xenotransplantation using micropigs.
Ryu
Jung Min
JM
Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Biotherapy Human Resources Center (BK21), Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Korea.
Kim
Dong Hyun
DH
Lee
Min Young
MY
Lee
Sang Hun
SH
Park
Jae Hong
JH
Yun
Seung Pil
SP
Jang
Min Woo
MW
Kim
Seong Hwan
SH
Rho
Gyu Jin
GJ
Han
Ho Jae
HJ
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D008099:Liver / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000098:blood supply; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D019520:Living Donors; D008297:Male; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous / Q000379:methods*