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

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.