A canine portal hypertension model induced by intra-portal administration of Sephadex microsphere.
OBJECTIVE
Big animal models of portal hypertension are important for the research into this disease. The aim of this study was to establish a canine portal hypertension model by intra-portal administration of microspheres.


METHODS
Sixteen mongrel dogs were assigned to control group and experimental group randomly. The catheterization of portal vein was performed by laparotomy and the outer end of the catheter was fixed subcutaneously in the abdominal wall. The dogs of the experimental group were given intra-portal injections of microspheres at a five-day interval, six times in total. Portal hemodynamics, blood cell counting, liver and renal function test, portography, gastroscopy, liver, spleen and lung histological examination were taken to evaluate the model.


RESULTS
1, 2, 3 and 4 months after initial injection of microspheres, portal venous pressure rose from baseline 8.7 +/- 0.7 mmHg to 24.3 +/- 1.6, 20.6 +/- 2.1, 19.0 +/- 1.8 and 17.7 +/- 2.0 mmHg, respectively (P < 0.01). The diameter of portal vein increased from 7.6 +/- 0.3 to 8.6 +/- 0.3 mm, calculated portal resistance increased from 0.46 +/- 0.06 to 1.06 +/- 0.20 (mmHg/mL/min/kg body weight); velocity of portal blood flow decreased from 35.1 +/- 1.7 to 26.1 +/- 2.4 cm/s (P < 0.01, respectively). The animals of experimental group developed marked splenomegaly and profuse portosystemic collateral circulations with normal liver and renal function.


CONCLUSIONS
Repeated intra-portal administration of microspheres can induce stable and reproducible chronic portal hypertension in dogs with normal liver and renal functions. This model can meet multiple demands of both basic and clinical research of portal hypertension.
Jin
Wangxun
W
First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College, General Surgery, Wenzhou City, Zhejiang, China.
Deng
Liming
L
Zhang
Qiyu
Q
Lin
Dexin
D
Zhu
Jiying
J
Chen
Yunzhi
Y
Chen
Bicheng
B
Li
Jianmin
J
D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000818:Animals; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003097:Collateral Circulation; D003911:Dextrans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018450:Disease Progression; D004285:Dogs; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008863:Microspheres; D017082:Portal Pressure; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011172:Portography; D013163:Splenomegaly / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors; D014655:Vascular Resistance
D003911:Dextrans; C025614:sephadex