Scanning electron microscopy of intrahepatic microvasculature casts following experimental hepatic artery embolization.

The initial site of occlusion of the intrahepatic microvasculature in rats following hepatic artery embolization was studied by scanning electron microscopy of microvasculature casts. The rats were divided into four groups: embolization with gelatin powder (n = 3), polyvinyl alcohol (n = 3, 125-150 microns), gelatin sponge (n = 3, 212-250 microns), and ionized oil. Not only the hepatic arteries but also vessels in the peribiliary plexus were occluded. However, the size of the hepatic arteries and vessels of the peribiliary plexus occluded correlated with the size of the embolic material, except in the case of the gelatin powder which occluded vessels smaller than the particle size.