Introduction of a new method of rat liver transplantation using retrograde reperfusion

Summary BACKGROUND: Rat liver transplantation is a common method in liver transplantation research. There are lots of different methods described until today. Although liver transplantation with retrograde reperfusion is established in the clinical routine there is no rat liver model described. METHODS: Arterialized rat liver transplantation with initial retrograde reperfusion was performed on n = 7 male LEWIS-(RT 1 )-rats. 1, 24 and 48 hours after the operation, serum parameters were determined. Furthermore, after 48 hours the liver was taken for histological assessment. RESULTS: The AST and the ALT levels showed a linear decrease during the first 48 hours after transplantation. GLDH levels showed an increase during the first 24 hours before they decreased strongly. In histology, the livers showed a good quality with only less necrosis. The highest amount of necrosis could be seen in the Rappaport zone 3. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to show that arterialized rat liver transplantation with initial retrograde reperfusion is feasible and shows a good outcome. Especially in centers where retrograde reperfusion of the liver is performed in clinical transplantation this method should be used for transplantation research to reach the closest possible relation between science and clinic.