A Novel Rat Model Simulating Biliary Atresia after a Kasai Operation

ABSTRACT

Purpose: The mechanisms of liver fibrosis in biliary atresia (BA) after a Kasai operation deserve studying to improve the clinical outcomes. This study aimed to create a rat model simulating BA after a Kasai operation. Methods: We inserted a polyethylene tube (PE10) into the common hepatic duct (CHD) and ligated the common bile duct (CBD) in 30 newborn rats and injected 95% ethanol into IHD at postoperative week-one (POW-1). The PE10 was removed at POW-3. The rats were sacrificed at POW-5. The CBD cystojejunostomy was performed on another 10 rats at POW-5. Results: The IHD obliteration and CBD dilatation were noted at POW-3 cholangiography before removal of the PE tube. The gross findings at sacrifice in the rats without cystojejunostomy included biliary fibrosis, CBD cyst, and IHD obliteration. The microscopic findings of the liver were like BA. Seven of the 10 rats with CBD cystojejunostomy were jaundice-free at POW-8. The fibrosis grade at POW-8 of the rats with CBD cystojejunostomy was significantly lower in the jaundice-free rats (Ishak fibrosis score, 3.4 ± 0.9 and 1.5 ± 0.3 in the jaundiced rats and jaundice-free rats, respectively, p < .05). Conclusion: Based on our study, CBD cystojejunostomy five weeks after CBD ligation with ethanol injection into the IHD in newborn rats can provide a model for investigating mechanisms and treatments of liver fibrosis in BA after a Kasai operation.

Keywords: :

• biliary atresia
• fibrosis
• Kasai operation
• model
• rat
• alcohol

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This work was assisted in part by Taiwan National Science Council and the Division of Experimental Surgery of the Department of Surgery and Clinical Research Core Laboratory of Taipei Veterans General Hospital grant number NSC 101-2314-B-075-021. Special thanks to the technical assistance of Miss Yen-Yu Chiu and Miss Ting-Kuei Lee.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.