Decrease in hepatic circulation induces hepatic fibrosis in a neonatal piglet model with short bowel syndrome

Regarding the complications associated with short bowel syndrome (SBS), progressive liver failure is one of the most severe complications known to occur: Although several studies have suggested that many factors interactively influence this clinical condition we investigated the relationship between hepatic circulation and hepatic fibrosis using a neonatal piglet SBS model.

This study used the following 4 groups of neonatal piglets: a group with an 80% resection of the small bowel (SBS group), a group with a bypass operation of the small bowel (functional SBS group), a group with only a laparotomy as a sham operation (sham group), and a no operative treatment group (control group). We measured the hepatic circulation just before and after the reconstruction of the intestine, as well as on the 7th and 14th postoperative day. In addition, both blood and hepatic tissue samples were collected to investigate them both biochemically and morphologically.

Regarding the biochemical liver function and the tissue blood flow of liver, there were no significant differences among all groups on any investigated days. However, on both the 7th and 14th postoperative days, the portal venous flow in the SBS group was significantly lower than that in other groups. According to a histological analysis, only hepatic samples on the 14th postoperative day showed mild hepatic fibrosis in the SBS group. Regarding the alpha-smooth muscle actin staining findings that expresses active stellate cells, numerous positive cells were found to be distributed in the perisinusoidal space on the 14th postoperative day in the SBS group.

Based on our data, a decrease in the hepatic circulation, especially in the portal venous flow, after a massive resection of the intestine may cause progressive liver dysfunction because of the activation of hepatic stellate cells.