title: Comparison of Methods for the Reconstruction of the Hepatic Artery in Mouse Orthotopic Liver Transplantation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The mouse model of arterialized orthotopic liver transplantation (AOLT) has played an important role in biomedical research. The available methods of sutured anastomosis for reconstruction of the hepatic artery are complicated, resulting in a high incidence of complications and failure. Therefore, we developed and evaluated a new model of AOLT in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Male inbred C57BL/6 mice were used in this study. A continuous suture approach was applied to connect the suprahepatic inferior vena cava (SHVC). The portal vein and infrahepatic inferior vena cava (IHVC) were connected according to the "two-cuff" method. The common bile duct was connected by a biliary stent. We used the stent (G3 group) or aortic trunk (G2 group) to reconstruct the hepatic artery. The patency of the hepatic artery was verified by transecting the artery near the graft after one week. The survival rate of the recipients and serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, hepatic pathologic alterations, apoptosis and necrosis were observed at one week postoperatively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patency of the hepatic artery was verified in eight of ten mice in G3 and in six of ten mice in G2. The 7-day survival rate, extents of necrosis and apoptosis, and TGF-β levels were not significantly different among the three groups (P>0.05). However, the serum ALT levels and operation time were markedly lower in G3 compared with G2 or G1 (both P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Reconstruction of the hepatic artery using a stent can be performed quickly with a high rate of patency. This model simplifies hepatic artery anastomosis and should be promoted in the field of biomedical research.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China; Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Zhenzhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China; Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Jinjing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China; Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Song
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China; Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Xiangwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.
authors.forename: Qinlong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001012:Aorta, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery; D017209:Apoptosis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D003135:Common Bile Duct / Q000601:surgery; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009336:Necrosis; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000601:surgery; D011897:Random Allocation; D015607:Stents; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000097:blood; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D000410:Alanine Transaminase