Identification of tissue sections from decellularized liver scaffolds for repopulation experiments.

Background: Biological organ engineering is a novel experimental approach to generate functional liver grafts by decellularization and repopulation. Currently, healthy organs of small or large animals and human organs with preexisting liver diseases are used to optimize decellularization and repopulation.However, the effects of morphological changes on allo- and xenogeneic cell-scaffold interactions during repopulation procedure, e.

P53 Plays an Important Role in the Early Stage of Autologous Heterotopic Transplantation of Ovaries into the Backs of Mice.

Background: Subcutaneous ovarian transplantation has recently begun receiving increased attention. Fourteen days after transplantation is used as an important time point for assessing the recovery of ovarian function. The goal of this study is to determine the expression of apoptotic genes in the ovary at this time.

Identification of Proteins Interacting with Cytoplasmic High-Mobility Group Box 1 during the Hepatocellular Response to Ischemia Reperfusion Injury.

Ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) occurs inevitably in liver transplantations and frequently during major resections, and can lead to liver dysfunction as well as systemic disorders. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) plays a pathogenic role in hepatic IRI. In the normal liver, HMGB1 is located in the nucleus of hepatocytes; after ischemia reperfusion, it translocates to the cytoplasm and it is further released to the extracellular space.

Bioengineered Livers: A New Tool for Drug Testing and a Promising Solution to Meet the Growing Demand for Donor Organs.

Background: Organ engineering is a new innovative strategy to cope with two problems: the need for physiological models for pharmacological research and donor organs for transplantation. A functional scaffold is generated from explanted organs by removing all cells (decellularization) by perfusing the organ with ionic or nonionic detergents via the vascular system. Subsequently the acellular scaffold is reseeded with organ-specific cells (repopulation) to generate a functional organ.

Visualization of Vascular and Parenchymal Regeneration after 70% Partial Hepatectomy in Normal Mice.

A modified silicone injection procedure was used for visualization of the hepatic vascular tree. This procedure consisted of in-vivo injection of the silicone compound, via a 26 G catheter, into the portal or hepatic vein. After silicone injection, organs were explanted and prepared for ex-vivo micro-CT (µCT) scanning.

Quantification of Hepatic Vascular and Parenchymal Regeneration in Mice.

Background: Liver regeneration consists of cellular proliferation leading to parenchymal and vascular growth. This study complements previous studies on cellular proliferation and weight recovery by (1) quantitatively describing parenchymal and vascular regeneration, and (2) determining their relationship. Both together are needed to (3) characterize the underlying growth pattern.

Establishment of a rat model: Associating liver partition with portal vein ligation for staged hepatectomy.

Background: We adapted the anatomically oriented parenchyma-preserving resection technique for associating liver partition with portal vein ligation (PVL) for staged hepatectomy (ALPPS) in rats and examined the role of revascularization in intrahepatic size regulation.

Methods: We performed the procedures based on anatomic study. The ALPPS procedure consisted of a 70% PVL (occluding the left median, left lateral, and right lobes), parenchymal transection (median lobe) and partial (10%) hepatectomy (PHx; caudate lobe).

Intrahepatic Vascular Anatomy in Rats and Mice--Variations and Surgical Implications.

Introduction: The intra-hepatic vascular anatomy in rodents, its variations and corresponding supplying and draining territories in respect to the lobar structure of the liver have not been described. We performed a detailed anatomical imaging study in rats and mice to allow for further refinement of experimental surgical approaches.

Methods: LEWIS-Rats and C57Bl/6N-Mice were subjected to ex-vivo imaging using μCT.

Developmental Status: Impact of Short-Term Ischemia on Follicular Survival of Whole Ovarian Transplantation in a Rabbit Model.

Ischemia is the first mechanism that provokes the loss of follicles in ovarian grafts over the long term. In whole ovarian transplantation, it remains unknown, however, how changes in follicular development are influenced by short-term ischemia. Fresh whole ovarian orthotopic auto-transplantation was performed in rabbits with 45 min ischemia, and the impact of ischemia on follicular survival and development status was evaluated at different time-points (1 day, 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks and 1 month).

Monitoring of systemic and hepatic hemodynamic parameters in mice.

The use of mouse models in experimental research is of enormous importance for the study of hepatic physiology and pathophysiological disturbances. However, due to the small size of the mouse, technical details of the intraoperative monitoring procedure suitable for the mouse were rarely described. Previously we have reported a monitoring procedure to obtain hemodynamic parameters for rats.

G-CSF pretreatment aggravates LPS-associated microcirculatory dysfunction and acute liver injury after partial hepatectomy in rats.

Liver dysfunction is a serious complication in the early phase following major liver resection or liver transplantation and might be aggravated by the translocation of bacteria and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). As a preventive strategy, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is prophylactically applied in patients who are subjected to major surgery. However, we previously demonstrated that G-CSF can induce LPS sensitization.