title: Establishment of a rat model of portal vein ligation combined with in situ splitting.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Portal vein ligation (PVL) combined with in situ splitting (ISS) has been shown to induce remarkable liver regeneration in patients. The purpose of this study was to establish a model of PVL+ISS in rats for exploring the possible mechanisms of liver regeneration using these techniques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rats were randomly assigned to three experimental groups: selective PVL, selective PVL+ISS and sham operation. The hepatic regeneration rate (HRR), Ki-67, liver biochemical determinations and histopathology were assessed at 24, 48, and 72 h and 7 days after the operation. The microcirculation of the median lobes before and after ISS was examined by laser speckle contrast imaging. Meanwhile, cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, HGF and HSP70 in regenerating liver lobes at 24 h was investigated by RT-PCR and ELISA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The HRR of PVL+ISS was much higher than that of the PVL at 72 h and 7 days after surgery (p<0.01). The expression of Ki-67 in hepatocytes in the regenerating liver lobe was stronger in the PVL+ISS group than in the PVL group at 48 and 72 h (p<0.01). There was a significant reduction in microcirculation blood perfusion of the left median lobe before and after ISS. Liver biochemical determinations and histopathology demonstrated more severe hepatocyte injury in the PVL+ISS group. Both the mRNA levels of TNF-α and IL-6 and the protein levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and HGF in regenerating liver lobes were higher in the PVL+ISS than the PVL alone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The higher HRR in the PVL+ISS compared with the PVL confirmed that we had successfully established a PVL+ISS model in rats. The possible mechanisms included the reduced microcirculation blood perfusion of the left median lobe and up-regulation of cytokines in the regenerating lobes after ISS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Libin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.affiliation: Hospital and Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Chonghui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Hospital and Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Xinlan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Hongdong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China.
authors.forename: Kesen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Hospital and Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Aiqun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong Province, China; Hospital and Institute of Hepatobiliary Surgery, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Jiahong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism; D008026:Ligation; D008099:Liver / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008115:Liver Regeneration; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000601:surgery*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor