Portacaval transposition in the rat: A new technique and its effects on liver and body weight

Abstract

Portacaval transposition by direct end-to-end anastomoses has been established in rats, with negligible mortality and with survivors up to 150 days. The operation was associated with an early fall in body weight, followed by a recovery period the rapidity of which was related to the preoperative weight (and thus age) of the animal. At sacrifice after 35 days the relative liver weight of the animals with portacaval transposition was significantly reduced (P < 0.01), though it remained significantly higher (P < 0.001) than that in a group of animals with a portacaval shunt. The only histological change was minimal congestion of the sinusoids in the animals with portacaval transposition.