Effect of intra-arterial infusion with triolein emulsion on rabbit liver

AIM: To determine whether intra-arterial infusion of triolein emulsion has biochemical and histopathologic effect on rabbit liver.METHODS: An emulsion of 0.2 mL triolein in 20 mL of saline was infused into either the hepatic arteries of nine rabbits(group 1) or the superior mesenteric arteries of 12 rabbits(group 2). Five rabbits infused with 20 mL of normal saline were used as a control group(group 3). The serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST) and alanine aminotransferase(ALT) levels were measured to evaluate liver function in each group just before the infusion, at 2 h, day 1, day 4, and day 7 following infusion. Each rabbit in all of the groups was infused with Evans blue on day 7 to evaluate changes in vascular permeability, and obtain the stained area of the hepatic surface. If the stained area was not available, the anteroinferior portion of the right hepatic lobe was selected. The obtained tissues were examined by light, electron and confocal microscopy. The changes in AST and ALT levels at each time point were calculated and statistically analyzed using a mixed linear model. A P value < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant. RESULTS: In group 1(hepatic artery group), both the AST and ALT serum levels increased significantly on day 1(P = 0.0016 and P < 0.0001, respectively) compared with the control group, followed by a decrease thereafter. In group 2(portal vein group), the AST level increased on day 4(P = 0.0095), while the ALT level increased significantly on day 1(P < 0.0001), and decreased thereafter, as compared with the control. For the remainder of the examination days, there were no significant changes in the AST and ALT levels(P > 0.05). Only three rabbits in each group showed hepatic surface staining with the Evans blue dye. Light and electron microscopic findings showed no specific changes in the selected hepatic tissues. Confocal microscopic examination with transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling stain revealed lack of hepatocyte apoptosis in any of the groups. There were no differences in the results between group 1 and group 2.CONCLUSION: Infusion of triolein emulsion into rabbit livers revealed a minimal transient decrease of liverfunction,and no specific histopathologic changes.