title: A Macaca mulatta model of fulminant hepatic failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish an appropriate primate model of fulminant hepatic failure (FHF).
  
  
  METHODS
  We have, for the first time, established a large animal model of FHF in Macaca mulatta by intraperitoneal infusion of amatoxin and endotoxin. Clinical features, biochemical indexes, histopathology and iconography were examined to dynamically investigate the progress and outcome of the animal model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results showed that the enzymes and serum bilirubin were markedly increased and the enzyme-bilirubin segregation emerged 36 h after toxin administration. Coagulation activity was significantly decreased. Gradually deteriorated parenchymal abnormality was detected by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography at 48 h. The liver biopsy showed marked hepatocyte steatosis and massive parenchymal necrosis at 36 h and 49 h, respectively. The autopsy showed typical yellow atrophy of the liver. Hepatic encephalopathy of the models was also confirmed by hepatic coma, MRI and pathological changes of cerebral edema. The lethal effects of the extrahepatic organ dysfunction were ruled out by their biochemical indices, imaging and histopathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have established an appropriate large primate model of FHF, which is closely similar to clinic cases, and can be used for investigation of the mechanism of FHF and for evaluation of potential medical therapies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Zi-Xing
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hong-Xia
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yu-Jun
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017114:Liver Failure, Acute / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging
chemical_list: D001663:Bilirubin