A simple experimental model of total hepatectomy, hepatic ischemia and extrahepatic portal obstruction in rats using splenic transposition.

The objective of this study was to develop an easy and simple experimental rat model of total hepatectomy, hepatic ischemia and extrahepatic portal obstruction. The first operation involved transposing the spleen with its scarified capsule in a subcutaneous pouch to produce portasystemic anastomosis. Total hepatectomy was easily performed in a lobe-by-lobe fashion 2 weeks following the first stage operation. Anhepatic rats receiving a glucose infusion survived for about 10 hours and all died of acute hepatic failure. Hepatic support systems can be accurately evaluated in this anhepatic rat model because of its uniformity. Sixty minutes of hepatic ischemia was able to be performed in rats with a transposed spleen for a portasystemic shunt and no complicated or technically involved procedure was required for the ischemic model. No rats died due to technical difficulties, suggesting the reliability and reproducibility of this ischemic model. An animal model resembling extrahepatic portal vein obstruction was also obtained by ligation of the portal vein; a simple maneuver which was able to produce collateral veins to the liver and cavernous transformation, as similarly seen in clinical patients with extrahepatic portal obstruction. Because these 3 animal models were so easily achieved in the rat, and since the changes in hepatic function and formation of the collaterals to the liver after portal vein occlusion are still poorly understood, this model should prove valuable for future study.