A new experimental model for acute hepatic failure in rats.
OBJECTIVE
To develop a reliable surgical model of acute hepatic failure and hyperammonemia in rats that avoids porto-systemic shunt and bile duct ligation, applicable to hepatic encephalopathy research.


METHODS
The pedicles of right lateral and caudate lobes were exposed and clamped. One hour later, the animal was reopened, clamps were released and anterior subtotal hepatectomy (resection of median and left lateral lobes) was performed, comprising 75% of liver removal. Four hours after hepatectomy, blood samples and liver tissues were collected from ALF and control groups.


RESULTS
Differences between ALF and control groups were significant for ALT, AST, total and direct bilirubin, sodium, potassium, alkaline phosphatasis, gamma-glutamyltransferase and most important, ammonia. Histologically, significant differences were noticed between groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The model is useful for the study of specific aspects of ALF and the development of new therapeutic approaches.
Teixeira
Antonio Roberto Franchi
AR
Department of Gastroenterology, USP, São Paulo, Brazil.
Machado
Marcel Cerqueira Cesar
MC
Kubrusly
Márcia Saldanha
MS
Molan
Nilza Trindade
NT
Bellodi-Privato
Marta
M
Leite
Kátia Regina
KR
D'Albuquerque
Luiz Augusto Carneiro
LA
D000641:Ammonia / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D003401:Creatine / Q000097:blood; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006498:Hepatectomy / Q000379:methods*; D006501:Hepatic Encephalopathy / Q000209:etiology; D022124:Hyperammonemia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012964:Sodium / Q000097:blood
D000641:Ammonia; D012964:Sodium; D003401:Creatine; D001663:Bilirubin; D011188:Potassium