title: Effects of partial portal vein arterialization on the hilar bile duct in a rat model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Liver revascularization is frequently required during the enlarged radical operation for hilar cholangiocarcinoma involving the hepatic artery. Researchers have carried out a number of experiments applying partial portal vein arterialization (PVA) in clinical practice. In this study we aimed to establish a theoretical basis for clinical application of partial PVA and to investigate the effects of partial PVA on rat hilar bile duct and hepatic functions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty rats were randomly and equally assigned into 3 groups: control (group A), hepatic artery ligation+bile duct recanalization (group B), and partial PVA+bile duct recanalization (group C). Proliferation and apoptosis of rat hilar bile duct epithelial cells, arteriolar counts of the peribiliary plexus (PBP) of the bile duct wall, changes in serum biochemistry, and pathologic changes in the bile duct were assessed 1 month after operation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proliferation of hilar bile duct epithelial cells in group B was greater than in groups A and C (P<0.01). No apoptotic hilar bile duct epithelial cells were detected in any of the groups. The PBP arteriolar counts of the hilar bile duct wall were similar in groups A and C (P>0.05), but the count was lower in group B than in group A (P<0.01). No statistically significant differences in alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and albumin were found in the 3 groups. The gamma-glutamyltransferase value was higher in group B than in groups A and C (P<0.01). The hepatic tissues of groups A and C showed no significant abnormality. Chronic inflammatory changes in the hilar bile duct walls were observed only in group B.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Partial PVA can restore the arterial blood supply of the hilar bile duct and significantly extenuate the injury to hilar bile duct epithelial cells resulting from hepatic artery ligation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, General Hospital of PLA, Beijing 100853, China.
authors.forename: Shao-Hua
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Chong-Hui
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yong-Liang
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-Ning
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Ai-Qun
authors.initials: AQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001653:Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D008026:Ligation; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers