Effect of partial vein arterialization on hepatohilar bile duct in rats with obstructive jaundice

Objective To study the effect of partial portal vein arterialization after bile duct flow reconstruction on hepatohilar bile duct, liver function and bile duct epithelium in rats with obstructive jaundice. Methods Forty rats were randomly divided into group A(control group), group B undergoing bile duct recanalization 5 days after obstructive jaundice, group C undergoing bile duct recanalization + hepatic artery ligation 5 days after obstructive jaundice, and group D undergoing bile duct recanalization + partial portal vein arterialization 5 days after obstructive jaundice(10 in each group). Pathological changes in bile duct were observed with HE staining, serum ALP and GGT levels were measured, and apoptosis and necrosis of bile duct epithelial cells were detected with TUNEL staining 1 week after operation. Results No distinct pathological change was observed in hepatohilar bile duct of group A. Filtration of a small number of inflammatory cells and loss of a small number of bile duct epithelial cells were found in group B. The following changes occurred in group C, including acute or chronic infiltration of inflammatory cells on hepatic bile duct wall, cytoplasm vacuolation of bile duct epithelial cells, loss of massive bile duct epithelium, necrosis of bile duct wall, and significantly increased apoptosis index of bile duct epithelial cells. Infiltration of a small number of inflammatory cells, scattered vacuolation of bile duct epithelial cells and loss of some bile duct epithelium were detected in group D with no significant difference in apoptosis index and necrosis of bile duct wall. Conclusion Liver artery ligation leads to severe ischemic and anoxic change in hepatohilar bile duct and even necrosis of bile duct wall while partial portal vein arterialization can significantly alleviate the damage to hepatohilar bile duct caused by liver artery ligation in rats with obstructive jaundice.