OBJECTIVETo investigate the application of donor livers from aging rats, and discuss the age limit of the donor rats liver transplantation.

METHODSArterialized, two-cuff technique orthotopic liver transplantation was performed in male Wistar rats. All the recipient rats were 5 months old, and the ages of the donor rats were 5 (group A), 17 (group B), 20 (group C), 23 (group D), and 26 (group E) months (n=12). The postoperative function recovery and pathological changes of the liver grafts were evaluated by serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) detection and histopathological examination, and the 3-month survival rate of the rats was observed.

RESULTSAging liver grafts in groups B, C, and D caused early elevation of ALT peak level and aggravation of liver tissue damage, and the liver graft recovery was delayed until postoperative day 7. Mild liver fibrosis, reduced hepatocytes and pigment deposition were observed in the liver grafts before the transplantation. Compared with the other groups, the rats in group E showed significantly increased ALT levels after the transplantation (P<0.05), with failure of liver graft function recovery and significantly reduced 3-month survival rate (0%, Plt;0.05).

CONCLUSIONThe donor age of the rats is a crucial factor to affect the outcome of the liver grafts. Grafts obtained from rats younger than 23 months allow better functional recovery of the liver.