To investigate the feasibility of liver transplantation without liver graft irrigation or perfusion in rat models.

72 healthy adult SD rats were randomly and evenly divided into three groups: non-flushed donor liver with systemic heparinization (NFLS group), non-flushed donor liver without systemic heparinization (NFL group), and systemic heparinization with UW solution irrigation and perfusion (control group). In each group, the rats were randomly assigned as liver transplantation donors and recipients. The tissue and serum samples were obtained at 24 h and 72 h after liver transplantation for AST, ALT and TB detection. Gross and histopathological changes of liver grafts were observed after liver transplantation. The liver function indexes, such as AST and TB, were compared by Kruskal-Wallis test, and pairwise comparison was performed by Wilcoxon test.

Liver transplantation was successfully completed in all three groups, and all recipients survived after surgery. In the NFLS group, serum AST and TB levels were 112(89, 181) U/L and 0.5(0.4, 0.6) μmol/L at postoperative 72 h, significantly lower than 453(361, 692) U/L and 1.8(1.5, 2.2) μmol/L in the control group (Z=-2.56, -2.89; P<0.05). At postoperative 24 and 72 h, the liver grafts were properly perfused in three groups, and no evident necrosis was found on the surface of liver grafts. HE staining showed that the structure of liver lobules of grafts was normal in the NFLS and control groups, with slight fatty degeneration of microvesicles in the center of liver lobules. In the NFL group, microcirculatory thrombosis could be observed in the sinus of liver grafts.

Compared with conventional irrigation and perfusion using organ preservation solution, liver function and histological damage are not significantly aggravated after undergoing liver transplantation without irrigation or perfusion in rats, which might bea feasible option in clinical practice. Systemic heparinization of the donor is the key procedure.