Establishment of a hepatic cirrhosis and portal hypertension model by hepatic arterial perfusion with 80% alcohol.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the feasibility and safety of establishing a porcine hepatic cirrhosis and portal hypertension model by hepatic arterial perfusion with 80% alcohol.


METHODS
Twenty-one healthy Guizhou miniature pigs were randomly divided into three experimental groups and three control groups. The pigs in the three experimental groups were subjected to hepatic arterial perfusion with 7, 12 and 17 mL of 80% alcohol, respectively, while those in the three control groups underwent hepatic arterial perfusion with 7, 12 and 17 mL of saline, respectively. Hepatic arteriography and direct portal phlebography were performed on all animals before and after perfusion, and the portal venous pressure and diameter were measured before perfusion, immediately after perfusion, and at 2, 4 and 6 wk after perfusion. The following procedures were performed at different time points: routine blood sampling, blood biochemistry, blood coagulation and blood ammonia tests before surgery, and at 2, 4 and 6 wk after surgery; hepatic biopsy before surgery, within 6 h after surgery, and at 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 wk after surgery; abdominal enhanced computed tomography examination before surgery and at 6 wk after surgery; autopsy and multi-point sampling of various liver lobes for histological examination at 6 wk after surgery.


RESULTS
In experimental group 1, different degrees of hepatic fibrosis were observed, and one pig developed hepatic cirrhosis. In experimental group 2, there were cases of hepatic cirrhosis, different degrees of increased portal venous pressure, and intrahepatic portal venous bypass, but neither extrahepatic portal-systemic bypass circulation nor death occurred. In experimental group 3, two animals died and three animals developed hepatic cirrhosis, and different degrees of increased portal venous pressure and intrahepatic portal venous bypass were also observed, but there was no extrahepatic portal-systemic bypass circulation.


CONCLUSIONS
It is feasible to establish an animal model of hepatic cirrhosis and portal hypertension by hepatic arterial perfusion with 80% alcohol, however, the safety of this model depends on a suitable perfusion dose.
Lei Wang, Fu-Liang He, Fu-Quan Liu, Zhen-Dong Yue, Hong-Wei Zhao, Department of Interventional Therapy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
Lei
L
Wang
Lei Wang, Fu-Liang He, Fu-Quan Liu, Zhen-Dong Yue, Hong-Wei Zhao, Department of Interventional Therapy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
Fu-Liang
FL
He
Lei Wang, Fu-Liang He, Fu-Quan Liu, Zhen-Dong Yue, Hong-Wei Zhao, Department of Interventional Therapy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
Fu-Quan
FQ
Liu
Lei Wang, Fu-Liang He, Fu-Quan Liu, Zhen-Dong Yue, Hong-Wei Zhao, Department of Interventional Therapy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
Zhen-Dong
ZD
Yue
Lei Wang, Fu-Liang He, Fu-Quan Liu, Zhen-Dong Yue, Hong-Wei Zhao, Department of Interventional Therapy, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100038, China.
Hong-Wei
HW
Zhao
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D001777:Blood Coagulation; D000431:Ethanol; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010477:Perfusion / Q000379:methods*; D010690:Phlebography; D017082:Portal Pressure; D011169:Portal Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D015415:Biomarkers; D000431:Ethanol
Alcohol; Animal model; Hepatic arterial perfusion; Hepatic cirrhosis; Portal hypertension