Analysis of the reversibility of biliary cirrhosis in young rats submitted to biliary obstruction followed by desobstruction

• Grant number: 14/05370-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2014
• End date: December 31, 2015
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Ana Cristina Aoun Tannuri
• Grantee: Maria Julia de Aro Braz
• Host Institution: Instituto da Criança Professor Doutor Pedro de Alcantara (ICR). Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da USP (HCFMUSP). Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

In pediatric clinical practice, diseases such as biliary atresia and other liver conditions are of great importance, since they progress into biliary cirrhosis and eventually, necessity for liver transplant. It is known that the age at which a child undergoes the surgery for biliary drainage is the most important prognostic factor, however it is not known from which moment on the hepatic damage, caused by the disease, becomes irreversible. The clarification of this issue could act expressively in the management of diseases such as biliary atresia, a very important and difficult to treat condition. Objectives: Determination of how long after common bile duct obstruction, the liver injury occasioned becomes irreversible. Furthermore, histologic and molecular analysis will be made in the livers of the rats submitted to biliary obstruction followed by desobstruction. Material and methods: 36 young Wistar rats will initially undergo a surgery for ligation of the common bile duct. Then, they will undergo another surgery for reconstruction of bile flow 1, 2, 3, 4, 8 or 12 weeks after the initial procedure, with each group consisting of 6 rats. After 3 weeks, they will be sacrificed and liver samples will be collected for further histological and molecular analyzes.