Experimental Study On Tolerance Induction Of Rat Liver Transplantation By Transfusion Of Spleen Cells From In Vivo Dexamethasone-treated Donor Rats

Part I A modified rat orthotopic liver transplantation model with two-cuff method Aim: To investigate the simple and practical method of rat orthotopic liver transplantation with two-cuff technique. Methods: Some of the skills of Kamada's method were modified. Vein canulas were made of cotton-sticks according to vein size. Bile duct tube was made of epidural anesthetic ductus. Abdominal transverse incision was made both in donor and in recipient. The donor liver was perfused under low pressure from portal vein(PV). Before the anhepatic period, tractive sutures were placed under the branch of PV. hree point?anastomosis for suprahepatic vena cava(SVC) was used. PV and infrahepatic vena cava(IVC) anastomoses were made using cuff technique, while the hooked injector was used to expel air. Bile duct reconstruction was done with an intraluminal stent. The liver and bowel were kept in situ all the while. Small amount of heparin saline was injected after the transplantation. Results: Orthotopic liver transplantations were performed in 96 rats, including 56 training operations and 40 experimental operations. With the modified method, The mean time for donor operation and liver preparation were 29mm and 1 0mm, and the recipient operative and anhepatic time were 51 mm and 1 7mm respectively. The two-day and one-week survival rates were 95%(3 8/40) and 92. 5%(3 7/40). Conclusion: (1)This modified two-cuff method in rat orthotopic liver transplantation can simplify the operation procedure, increase the operative successful rate. It can be performed safely, reliably and practicably by only one operator. (2) The self-made modified vein canulas and the hooked injector are efficient and practical. Abdominal transverse incision improves exposure. The method of hree point?anastomosis for SVC improves the successful rate. All anastomosis must be kept in situ as well as no tension. (3) It's critical for the recipient operation to anastomose SVC, for the long survival rate to anastomose bile duct, and for the successful proceeding to perform carefully.