Dynamic changes and mechanism of intestinal endotoxemia in partially hepatectomized rats

AIM： To explore the mechanism of intestinal endotoxemia （IETM） formation and its changes in partially hepatectomized （PH） rats. METHODS： One-hundred and two adult male Wistar rats were randomly divided into three groups： normal control （NC） group, partially hepatectomized （PH） group and a sham-operated （SO） group. To study the dynamic changes, rats were sacrificed before and at different time points after partial hepatectomy or the sham-operation （ 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 36 h, 48 h, 72 h, 120 h and 168 h）. NC group was used as Oh time point in observation, namely 0 h group. For each time point indicated, six rats were used in parallel. Endotoxin （ET） and diamine oxidase （DAO） levels were determined in serum using Limulus Lysate test with chromogenic substrate and spectrophotometry. Intestinal mucosa barrier was observed under opticcal or electron microscope. The number and functional state of Kupffer cells （KCs） in the remnant regenerating liver were measured by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS： Serum ET levels significantly increased during 6-72 h period after PH compared with NC and SO groups, and there were two peak values at 12 and 48 h while serum DAO level significantly increased at 12 and 24 h. There was positive correlation （r = 0.757, P 〈 0.05） between the levels of DAO and ET dynamic changes. The optical examination showed neutrophil margination and superficial necrosis of the villi in the intestinal mucosa during 6-24 h period after PH. The penetrated electron microscope examination showed thatthe gaps between intestinal mucosa cells were increased and the Lanthanum （La） particles were observed among the intestinal mucosa cells during 6-48 h period, The numbers of KCs in the remnant regenerating liver were significantly increased during 24-168 h period after PH, However, the activation of KCs was predominantly observed at 48 h after PH. CONCLUSION： The mechanism of IETM in PH rats might be the injury of intestinal mucosa barrier and the decrease of the absolute number of KCs as well as the depression of functional state of KCs, This observation is of potential value in patients undergoing liver resection,

Progress in investigating the pathogenesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome

BACKGROUND: The pathogenesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome is complicated and remains unknown. This review aims to provide an updated knowledge about the pathogenesis of the syndrome. DATA SOURCES: Five medical databases, MEDLINE, Science-Direct, OVID, Springer Link, and Wiley Inter Science were searched for articles on 'hepatopulmonary syndrome', 'cirrhosis', 'angiogenesis', 'intestinal endotoxemia', 'nitric oxide', 'carbon monoxide', and other related subjects. RESULTS: Currently, imbalance between vasodilation and vasoconstriction, intestinal bacterial translocation, intestinal endotoxemia, and activation of the lung monocyte/macrophage system may play important roles in the pathogenesis of hepatopulmonary syndrome. Recent studies found that angiogenesis is also an important factor in the pathogenesis of experimental hepatopulmonary syndrome. CONCLUSION: Angiogenesis inhibition may be a potential approach for the treatment of hepatopulmonary syndrome in the future.