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Bile Duct Ligation in Mice: Induction of Inflammatory Liver Injury and Fibrosis by Obstructive Cholestasis
Published on: February 10, 2015
Obstructive jaundice impedes hepatic microcirculation in mice
Tomohisa Okaya1, Koji Nakagawa, Fumio Kimura
1Department of General Surgery, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan.
Hepato-Gastroenterology
|March 6, 2009
Summary
Obstructive jaundice impairs liver blood flow by activating Kupffer cells, leading to inflammation and reduced sinusoidal diameter. This hepatic microcirculation dysfunction contributes to liver damage in jaundiced patients.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Immunology
- Microcirculation
Background:
- Postoperative complications are common in obstructive jaundice.
- The underlying mechanisms affecting hepatic microcirculation and Kupffer cell activity remain unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of obstructive jaundice on hepatic microcirculation.
- To examine the role of Kupffer cells in obstructive jaundice-induced liver injury.
Main Methods:
- Obstructive jaundice was induced in mice via common bile duct ligation.
- Intravital microscopy assessed sinusoidal perfusion, leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions, and sinusoid diameters.
- Kupffer cell phagocytic activity and liver TNF-α mRNA expression were quantified.
Main Results:
- Obstructive jaundice significantly reduced sinusoidal perfusion and sinusoid diameters.
- Increased leukocyte rolling and sticking were observed in jaundiced mice.
- Kupffer cell phagocytic activity and TNF-α mRNA expression were elevated, correlating with Kupffer cell swelling.
Conclusions:
- Kupffer cell activation and swelling contribute to sinusoid narrowing.
- Leukocyte adhesion and impaired hepatic microcirculation likely cause hypoxic liver damage in obstructive jaundice.
