Biomedical Research

Objective: The plant lectin concanavalin A (ConA) induced acute hepatitis in mice is a commonly used animal model applied in acute immune-mediated hepatitis studies, but it is not suitable for large animal model of hepatic injury to promote the study of bio-artificial liver support systems in humans and help to assist pre-clinical evaluation. During producing Bama mini-swine model of hepatic injury, we find Hepatic congestion is dispensable for this model.

Methods: Seven Obama mini-swines in the model group were exposed to ConA by intravenous injection (5 mg/kg) into the vein of auricular back. The other 3 miniswines in the control group was administered with equal volume of saline. Blood was collected from precaval vein at 0 h, 6 h and 24 h after injection. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum creatinine (SCr) were determined. Portal vein pressure was measured. Animals surviving 24 h were euthanased. Afterwards, Liver tissues were collected and liver/weight index was calculated. The histological analyses of liver, kidney and spleen were performed.

Results: Our data show that hepatic congestion is the main pathological sign in concanavalin A-induced acute hepatitis model in mini-swine resulting in hepatitis congestion, intestinal bleeding, marked renal tubular necrosis and spleen.

Conclusion: Hepatic congestion is the main pathological sign in concanavalin A-induced acute hepatitis in Bama mini-swine.

Author(s): Guifang Yu, Zongzong Quan, Boxiong Shen, Shanliang Jin
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