Hepatic morphology changes after hepatic artery ligation in extrahepatic cholestasis

The present study was performed to correlate changes in hepatic morphology with hepatic artery ligation (HAL) in the presence of extrahepatic cholestasis (EHC). The study was conducted on 36 male Wistar rats weighing 350 to 400 g, divided at random into four groups of 9 animals each: group I, sham operation (control); group II, HAL; group III, bile duct ligation (BDL); group IV, HAL plus BDL. After seven days, liver fragments were obtained for morphological study. The relative volume of the bile ducts was I > II < III and III > IV (P < 0.05). These data indicate that arterial irrigation is important for the nutrition of the biliary tree. Seventy-six percent of the animals submitted to HAL plus BDL showed hepatic necrosis. In general, the liver probably becomes more dependent on HA flow in the presence of EHC.