Ann Surg Treat Res.  2018 Jan;94(1):8-12. 10.4174/astr.2018.94.1.8.

Technique for orthotopic liver transplantation in cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis)

• Lee KW
• Cho CW
• Park H
• Choi GS
• Park JB
• Kim SJ

• KMID: 2405333
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/astr.2018.94.1.8

Abstract

PURPOSE
Recent studies investigating new strategies to modulate the immune system have utilized animal models of liver transplantation (LT). However, the anhepatic phase (AHP) remains a crucial problem in LT. The aim of the present study is to introduce a technique for successful orthotopic LT in cynomolgus monkeys using an early-reperfusion strategy.
METHODS
Orthotopicallo-LT was performed with seven donor/recipient pairs of cynomolgus monkeys.
RESULTS
In 2 recipients, liver allografts were perfused after suprahepatic inferior vena cava (SHIVC), portal vein (PV), and infrahepatic inferior vena cava (IHIVC) anastomosis. To reduce the time of AHP in five recipients, liver allografts ware perfused after SHIVC and PV anastomosis while the IHIVC was not anastomosed. In the latter strategy, the AHP was reduced from 46 minutes to 31 minutes and a 24-hour survival rate of 80% was achieved.
CONCLUSION
Our results indicate that an early-reperfusion strategy can be successfully used to establish a LT model in cynomolgus monkeys with a consistently high rate of animal survival.

Keyword

Liver transplantation; Primates; Reperfusion

MeSH Terms

Allografts
Animals
Immune System
Liver Transplantation*
Liver*
Macaca fascicularis*
Models, Animal
Portal Vein
Primates
Reperfusion
Survival Rate
Vena Cava, Inferior

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Scheme of the early-reperfusion strategy. (A) PVs, SHIVCs, and IHIVCs were prepared for anastomosis. (B) Reperfusion was performed after SHIVC and PV anastomosis while the IHIVC was not anastomosed. (C) IHIVC anastomosis was performed after reperfusion. SHIVC, suprahepatic inferior vena cava; IHIVC, infrahepatic inferior vena cava; PV, portal vein.

• 

  Fig. 2 Actual photos of liver transplantation using early-reperfusion strategy. (A) SHIVC anastomosis was performed first. (B) PV anastomosis was performed in succession. (C) Reperfusion was performed after SHIVC and PV anastomosis while the IHIVC was not anastomosed. Note the difference of liver surface color before and after reperfusion. (D) IHIVC anastomosis was performed after reperfusion. SHIVC, suprahepatic inferior vena cava; IHIVC, infrahepatic inferior vena cava; PV, portal vein.

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