An experimental animal model of fulminant hepatic failure in pigs

The objective of this study was to develop an experimental animal model of fulminant hepatic failure to test the efficacy of the bioartificial liver system. The portal vein and the hepatic artery were clamped intermittently and then the hepatic artery was ligated (ligation group, n = 5). Pigs whose hepatic arteries were not ligated after clamping were assigned to the non-ligation group (n = 5). The biochemical changes in blood, histologic alterations of the liver and neurologic examination for pigs were checked up. All animals died within 17 hr in the ligation group. On the other hand, all animals survived more than 7 days in the non-ligation group. In the ligation group, the levels of ammonia, lactic acid and creatinine showed a progressively increasing pattern. Prothrombin time was also prolonged gradually. Cytoplasmic condensation and nuclear pyknosis of hepatocytes were detected histologically at autopsy. Neurologic findings such as decreased pain sensation, tachypnea and no light reflex of pupils were observed. The findings shown in the ligation group are similar to the clinical features of fulminant hepatic failure in human and this animal model is reproducible. Therefore, this can be a suitable animal model to evaluate the efficacy of the bioartificial liver system for treating fulminant hepatic failure.