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Intrahepatic biliary ablation with pure ethanol: an experimental model of biliary atresia
Yukihiro Tatekawa1, Akira Nakada, Tatsuo Nakamura
1Department of Bioartificial Organs, Institute for Frontier Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara Cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan. tatekawa3966@diary.ocn.ne.jp
Purpose:
We describe a new rat model of biliary atresia, induced by biliary ablation with pure ethanol.
Methods:
A catheter was inserted and fixed in the common bile duct of male rats. Saline or pure ethanol was injected through the catheter and the animals were monitored for 8 weeks thereafter. We measured total bilirubin (T-Bil), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine transaminase (ALT), and hyaluronic acid (HA) and examined liver biopsy specimens immunohistochemically for α-smooth muscle actin staining (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1).
Results:
The ethanol injection group animals were further divided into a temporary and a persistent liver dysfunction group. In the persistent group, T-Bil, AST, ALT and HA levels were significantly higher after 8 weeks in the persistent group than in the control group and the temporary group. In the ethanol injection group, α-SMA expression was prominent in the surrounding proliferative bile ducts and portal areas. The distribution of TGF-β1 was found prominently in hepatocytes in the center of nodules and in ductular epithelial cells.
Conclusions:
This study characterizes the effects of ethanol-induced bile duct injury in rats, resulting in sclerosing cholangitis and its secondary effects. We believe that this experimental model will prove useful in the study of biliary atresia.
