Study On The Distribution And Function Of Endothelial Cells In Adult Ligamentum Teres Hepatis

Objective To investigate the distribution and function of endothelial cells in ligamentum teres hepatis, for the purpose of offering theoretical support for the use of LTH as material to repair and reconstruct the portal vein and superior mesenteric vein in clinical application.Methods Forty two pieces of LTH were dissect in upper laparotomy. Twelve pieces were selected from them at random, and serial sections were made from fissural portion to subaponeurotic portion; the other thirty pieces were sampled in the middle of subaponeurotic portion, free portion and fissural portion respectively, which made experimental group. Twenty pieces of big vein including portal vein, renal vein and splenic vein were dissected in operations, which made control group. They were made into paraffin sections, stained with HE stain. The lumen morphology of LTH and endothelial cells’distribution were observed with optical microscope. Slices in which endothelial cells existed were dyed with immunohistochemical stain of FⅧRAg, CD34, eNOS and t-PA, image analysis was made with Image-Pro Plus software. The difference of average optical density between experiment group and control group was compared.Results1. Lumens of different shape existed in every segment of LTH stained with HE stain, including oval lumens, flattened lumens and stellate lumens.2. The endothelial cells were observed in most lumens of LTH. The number of endothelial cells descended from fissural portion to subaponeurotic portion gradually in twelve serial sections. And the median of endothelial cells number in fissural portion, free portion and subaponeurotic portion was15,11,4.5respectively, in every high power field. The number of endothelial cells in fissural portion and in free portion was more than that in subaponeurotic portion (P<0.05), there was no significant difference between the number of endothelial cells in fissural portion and free portion (P>0.05).3. Immunohistochemical staining of FⅧRAg, CD34molecule:Buffy particles were observed in lumens of positive samples, which were not observed in negative samples. There was not significant difference between AOD of LTH group and vein group statistically, with immunohistochemical stain by FⅧRAg and CD34molecules (P>0.05).4. Immunohistochemical staining of eNOS and t-PA:Buffy particles were observed in lumens of positive samples, which were not observed in negative samples. There was not significant difference between AOD of LTH group and vein group statistically, with immunohistochemical stain by eNOS and t-PA (P>0.05).Conclusion:1. Lumens of different shape existed in each portion of LTH, and endothelial cells existed in most portion of LTH. The number of endothelial cells descended from fissural portion to subaponeurotic portion gradually. The existence rate of endothelial cells in subaponeurotic portion was lower than that in fissural portion or in free portion; there was no significant difference between the existence rate of fissural portion and free portion. So we can use fissural portion and free portion of LTH to replace portal vein or superior mesentenc vein.2. The endothelial cells of LTH can produce FⅧRAg, CD34molecules, eNOS and t-PA. The endothelial cells of LTH still have the same function as abdominal large vein has.3. The endothelial cells of LTH can produce eNOS and t-PA which is anticoagulative. LTH might have the anticoagulative function.