Comparison of anesthesia and tumor implantation methods for establishing rabbit VX2 hepatocarcinoma

In this study, we compared different anesthesia and operation methods for modeling VX2 hepatocarcinoma in rabbits. Forty New Zealand white rabbits were randomly divided into three groups: A, B, and C. Group A underwent ultrasound-guided implantation and intravenous anesthesia; Group B underwent ultrasound-guided implantation and inhalation anesthesia; Group C underwent laparotomy implantation and intravenous anesthesia. Anesthesia and operation differences were compared between groups A and B, and A and C, respectively. We used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to assess tumor formation and growth, and pathological examination and immunohistochemistry to confirm the biological characteristics of the specimens. The anesthetic preparation and postoperative resuscitation times were shorter in group A compared to group B; there were no significant between-group differences in the intraoperative satisfactory effect rate or mortality rate. The operation time, incision length, hemorrhage volume, and leukocyte counts were lower in group A than group C; there were no significant between-group differences in the postoperative infection rate or mortality rate. MRI revealed that the celiac implantation rate decreased dramatically in groups A and B; there were no significant between-group differences in the largest tumor diameter, tumorigenesis rate, intrahepatic multifocal implantation rate, or abdominal wall invasion rate. Ten samples were confirmed by pathological examination and immunohistochemistry to have VX2 tumors. To conclude, using an inhalation-based anesthetic method is beneficial for improving the efficiency of the VX2 tumor implantation operation. Compared with laparotomy implantation, ultrasound-guided implantation required less operation time, had lower levels of internal damage, and had a lower celiac implantation rate.