Effects of portacaval shunt and portacaval transposition on hepatocellular and hepatic reticuloendothelial cell activity in the dog

Quantitative reduction of portal blood flow following a portacaval shunt (PCS) adversely affects hepatocyte function, but does not alter HRES activity[L.P. Edgcomb, J.A. Knol, and F.E. Eckhauser. J. Surg. Res. 33: 233, 1982]. To determine whether similar changes occur after qualitative alteration of portal blood flow, portacaval transpositions (PCT) were constructed in six conditioned mongrel dogs. Estimated hepatic blood flow (EHBF) was determined scintigraphically by the rate of hepatic uptake of a 500-μCi dose of ^99mTc-sulfur colloid (Tsc). Hepatic reticuloendothelial cell (RES) phagocytic (PI) and degradative (DI) indices were calculated from the half-time blood disappearance of ¹³¹I-labeled RES test lipid emulsion, and the half-time urine appearance of free ¹³¹I, respectively. Opsonic activity (OI) was determined by gelatin latex particle agglutination and normalized to control values. Hepatocellular function was assessed by serial determinations of albumin (Alb), and pyruvic and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminases (SGPT and SGOT). All studies were performed prior to and at 3, 6, and 9 weeks following PCS or PCT. Conclusions: In the dog, neither PCS nor PCT adversely affected HRES activity. Hepatocellular function and OI remained unchanged following PCT but deteriorated significantly after PCS. Observed changes in hepatocyte function and OI following PCS suggest that hepatocellular integrity and serum opsonic activity may be interrelated.