Anatomic and radiologic bases of combined transplantation of liver and small intestine in the pig

Bifid liver presenting with anomalous quadrate and caudate lobes and a transverse gallbladder

The current Observation reports multiple anomalies of the liver of a 55-year-old male cadaver. Observations revealed the presence of anomalies on the diaphragmatic and visceral surfaces of the liver. The diaphragmatic surface presented with a deep furrow that run obliquely from the fissure for the inferior vena cava to the inferior border of the liver. It divided the liver partially into the right and left segments that remained united by the liver tissue that measured about 0.7 cm thick. The two segments were easily pulled apart for up to 3 cm. A similar fissure did not appear on the visceral surface. The visceral surface presented with multiple anomalies that included a vertically oriented porta hepatis, abnormal Y-shaped fissures on the right lobe, transverse gallbladder, absence of the caudate process on the caudate lobe, abnormal quadrate lobe, and transverse fissure on the right lobe. The three fissures that formed a Y-shaped configuration delineated the quadrate lobe. The right and left arms of the Y-shaped fissure terminated in the porta hepatis. Congenital anomalies of the adult liver are rare; therefore continued documentation of such anomalies remains to be important in medical sciences and in the understanding of liver ontogeny.

Validation of Large White Pig as an animal model for the study of cannabinoids metabolism: application to the study of THC distribution in tissues

This study presents a new animal model, the Large White Pig, which was tested for studying cannabinoids metabolism. The first step has focused on determination of plasma kinetics after injection of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at different dosages. Seven pigs received THC by intravenous injections (50, 100 or 200 microg/kg). Plasma samples were collected during 48 h. Determination of cannabinoids concentrations were performed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results showed that plasma kinetics were comparable to those reported in humans. Terminal half-life of elimination was 10.6 h and a volume of distribution of 32 l/kg was calculated. In a second step, this model was used to determine the kinetic profile of cannabinoids distribution in tissues. Eight Large White male pigs received an injection of THC (200 microg/kg). Two pigs were sacrificed 30 min after injection, two others after 2, 6 and 24 h. Different tissues were sampled: liver, kidney, heart, lung, spleen, muscle, fat, bile, blood, vitreous humor and several brain areas. The fastest THC elimination was noted in liver tissue, where it was completely eliminated in 6 h. THC concentrations decreased in brain tissue slower than in blood. The slowest THC elimination was observed for fat tissue, where the molecule was still present at significant concentrations 24 h later. After 30 min, THC concentration in different brain areas was highest in the cerebellum and lowest in the medulla oblongata. THC elimination kinetics noted in kidney, heart, spleen, muscle and lung were comparable with those observed in blood. 11-Hydroxy-THC was only found at high levels in liver. THC-COOH was less than 5 ng/g in most tissues, except in bile, where it increased for 24 h following THC injection. This study confirms, even after a unique administration, the prolonged retention of THC in brain and particularly in fat, which could be at the origin of different phenomena observed for heavy users such as prolonged detection of THC-COOH in urine or cannabis-related flashbacks. Moreover, these results support the interest for this animal model, which could be used in further studies of distribution of cannabinoids in tissues.