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The mouse model of partial 2/3 (66%) hepatectomy is well described in the literature, but more extended hepatectomies mimicking small-for-size syndrome after liver transplantation have seldom been used. We describe an extended 78% hepatectomy procedure in a mouse model that results in approximately 50% postoperative lethality in healthy mice.
Partial 2/3 hepatectomy in mice is used in research to study the liver's regenerative capacity and explore outcomes of liver resection in a number of disease models. In the classical partial 2/3 hepatectomy in mice, two of the five liver lobes, namely the left and median lobes representing approximately 66% of the liver mass, are resected en bloc with an expected postoperative survival of 100%. More aggressive partial hepatectomies are technically more challenging and hence, have seldom been used in mice. Our group has developed a mouse model of an extended hepatectomy technique in which three of the five liver lobes, including the left, median, and right upper lobes, are resected separately to remove approximately 78% of the total liver mass. This extended resection, in otherwise healthy mice, leaves a remnant liver that cannot always sustain adequate and timely regeneration. Failure to regenerate ultimately results in 50% postoperative lethality within 1 week due to fulminant hepatic failure. This procedure of extended 78% hepatectomy in mice represents a unique surgical model for the study of small-for-size syndrome and the evaluation of therapeutic strategies to improve liver regeneration and outcomes in the setting of liver transplantation or extended liver resection for cancer.
Mouse and rat surgical liver resection models, first described in 1931, are the most common experimental models utilized to study the molecular basis of liver regeneration. They could also be useful in translational science research to test and develop strategies to improve outcomes following extended liver resection or transplantation of suboptimal liver grafts1,2,3,4. Partial hepatectomies (PH) in mice entail the removal of approximately 2/3 (66%) of the total liver mass (TLM), which when performed in healthy animals have exceptional outcomes5. The procedure is short in duration, easily reproducible due to little variation in mouse liver anatomy, and postoperative survival typically nears 100%1.
Partial 2/3 hepatectomy encompassing the resection of the left lobe (LL) and median lobe (ML) allows for the residual lobes to regenerate relatively unimpeded by lobar inflammation or restriction of hepatic inflow and outflow. Rather, increased portal venous flow and subsequently shear stress on liver sinusoidal endothelial cells following PH result in sustained upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression and subsequent nitric oxide (NO) release, which contribute to the priming of hepatocytes for proliferation and liver regeneration3. Outcomes commonly studied after 2/3 PH in disease models such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or in specific genetic backgrounds include risk of acute liver failure, qualitative and quantitative measures of the liver regenerative capacity, and other biologic responses to stress or traumatic injury1,3.
However, a mouse model mimicking functional or anatomical small-for-size syndrome, as it occurs following extended liver resection for cancer or transplantation of marginal (steatosis or prolonged ischemic time) or partial (split or from living donor liver) liver grafts, remains to be well-established. To address this need, models of more extensive liver resections that extend beyond the maintenance of a minimal (and functional) liver mass are required to model small-for-size liver syndrome and the heightened mortality that is associated with this syndrome6,7.
Mouse liver anatomy exhibits minimal variation. The mouse liver is comprised of five lobes, each accounting for the following percentage of the total liver mass: left lobe (LL; 34.4 ± 1.9%), median lobe (ML; 26.2 ± 1.9%), right upper (also called right superior) lobe (RUL; 16.6 ± 1.4%), right lower (also called right inferior) lobe (RLL; 14.7 ± 1.4%), and caudate lobe (CL, 8.1 ± 1.0%)1,5. Each lobe is supplied by a portal triad, including a branch of the hepatic artery, a branch of the portal vein, and a bile duct5. Historically, several techniques were described to perform a 2/3 PH by resecting the LL and the ML. These include 1) the classical technique that consists of a single ligature en bloc at the base of each of the resected lobes; 2) the hemostatic clip technique, using titanium clips applied at the base of the resected lobes; 3) a vessel-oriented parenchyma-preserving technique, using piercing sutures proximal to the clamp; and 4) a vessel-oriented microsurgical technique, whereby the portal vein and hepatic artery branches are ligated prior to lobe resection1. While each technique has relative strengths and weaknesses, none yields higher lethality1,8,9.
In this study, we present a novel method for extended 78% PH in mice. In this model, three of five liver lobes, including the LL, ML, and RUL, are removed separately using a ligature technique (Figure 1). This procedure results in the resection of approximately 78% (77.2 ± 5.2%) of the total liver mass. Our choice of removing the LL and ML separately, and not "en bloc" as in the classical PH technique, minimizes complications that are associated with en bloc resection of these two lobes, such as suprahepatic vena cava stenosis and heightened risk of necrosis of the remaining lobes when the single ligature is applied too close to the vena cava1,10,11,12,13,14. This is crucial before moving to the final step of this procedure to remove the RUL. This extensive hepatectomy in 8-12 weeks old, wild-type C57BL/6 mice causes 50% lethality within 1 week of surgery due to failed liver regeneration causing fulminant liver failure15,16. This mouse model of heightened lethality following extended 78% hepatectomy appropriately recapitulates the pathophysiology of small-for-size syndrome and enables the development and testing of novel strategies to improve outcomes.
The methods described within this procedure protocol have been approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC). All experiments were completed in accordance and compliance with IACUC and the BIDMC animal research facility guidelines.
1. Mouse preoperative preparation
2. Hepatectomy
3. Postoperative care
A successful extended 78% hepatectomy is expected to induce 50% mortality within 1 week in healthy adult mice aged 8-12 weeks16. When properly performed, minimal blood loss is expected. Residual bleeding that persists can be controlled by manual pressure. Perioperative death within 24 h of surgery is often caused by technical errors. Technical failures include inadvertent injury to large blood vessels causing intractable intraoperative hemorrhage; significant postoperative hemorrhage often due to ...
To successfully perform an extended 78% hepatectomy causing 50% lethality in mice, it is critical that each liver lobe is precisely resected. This level of competency and precision can only be achieved if the procedure is performed repeatedly. The training curve varies between operators but typically requires 3-6 months of practice. A liver resection that removes less than 78% of the TLM would result in higher survival rates, while a liver resection that removes greater than 78% of the TLM would result in greater lethali...
There are no conflicts of interest to disclose.
This work was supported by NIH R01 grants DK063275 and HL086741 to CF. PB and TA are recipients of an NRSA fellowship from the NHLBI T32 training grant HL007734.
Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
2 x 2 Gauze | Covidien | 2146 | Surgery: dissection |
5-O Nylon Monofilament Suture | Oasis | 50-118-0631 | Surgery: Skin closure |
5-O Silk Suture | Fine Science Tools | 18020-50 | Surgery: liver lobe ligation |
5-O Vicryl Suture | Ethicon | NC9335902 | Surgery: Abdominal wall closure |
Addson Forceps | Braintree Scientific | FC028 | Surgery: dissection |
Alcohol Swabs (2) | BD | 326895 | Disinfectant |
Buprenorphine Extended Release Formulation | Zoopharm | N/A | Analgesia |
Cordless Trimmer | Braintree Scientific | CLP-9868-14 | Shaving |
Curved Forceps | Braintree Scientific | FC0038 | Surgery: dissection |
Hemostat | Braintree Scientific | FC79-1 | Surgery: dissection |
Isoflurane Inhalant Anesthetic | Patterson Veterinary | RXISO-250 | General Anesthesia |
Magnet Fixator (2-slot) (2) | Braintree Scientific | ACD-001 | Surgery: to hold small retractors |
Magnet Fixator (4-slot) | Braintree Scientific | ACD-002 | Surgery: to hold small retractors |
Microscissors | Braintree Scientific | SC-MI 151 | Surgery: dissection |
Operating tray | Braintree Scientific | ACD-0014 | Surgery: for establishment of surgical field |
Povidone Iodine 10% Swabstick (2) | Medline | MDS093901ZZ | Disinfectant |
Scalpel (15-blade) | Aspen Surgical Products | 371615 | Surgery: dissection |
Sharp Scissors (Curved) | Braintree Scientific | SC-T-406 | Surgery: dissection |
Sharp Scissors (Straight) | Braintree Scientific | SC-T-405 | Surgery: dissection |
Small Cotton-Tipped Applicators | Fisher Scientific | 23-400-118 | Surgery: dissection |
Tissue Forceps (Straight x2) | Braintree Scientific | FC1001 | Surgery: dissection |
Warming Pad (18" x 26") | Stryker | TP 700 | Warming |
Warming Pad Pump | Stryker | TP 700 | Warming |
Wire Handle Retractor (2) | Braintree Scientific | ACD-005 | Surgery: to facilitate exposure of peritoneal cavity |
Xenotec Isoflurane Small Animal Anesthesia System | Braintree Scientific | EZ-108SA | General Anesthesia: Contains Isoflurane vaborizer & console, Induction chamber, Regulator/Hose, Facemask (M) |
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