Experience with cuff rearterialization in 600 orthotopic liver grafts in the rat.

The model of orthotopic rat liver transplantation has been a useful tool in transplantation research for two decades. Due to technical problems, the optional hepatic artery anastomosis is not performed in many experiments. Recently developed techniques, however, have made rearterialization a simple procedure. With our technique of cuff rearterialization to the recipient common hepatic artery, in 600 rat liver grafts we achieved high viability, and an early patency rate of 100%. Patency rates after 2 and 21 days were nearly 90%. Cuff rearterialization is simple, rapid to perform, and provides a physiologic model. Compared to strictly venous liver grafts, rearterialized grafts demonstrate improvement in survival, more rapid normalization of liver function parameters, a better preserved liver structure, and less biliary complications. Rearterialization is an important component of a physiologically relevant rat liver transplantation model, and non-specific changes due to arterial ischemia may adversely affect the interpretation of experimental data.