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Histological Analysis of the Effect of Hyperthermia on Normal Rabbit Hepatic Vasculature¹

Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyoto University, 54 Shogoin-Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606, Japan

The effects of hyperthermia on rabbit hepatic vasculature were studied histologically. To investigate heat-induced vascular damage in the central veins, portal veins, and hepatic arterioles, the left lobes of rabbit liver were heated locally for 30 min in the range of 40–46°C. Hyperthermia was induced by an 8-MHz radiofrequency current heating device using a needle type interstitial applicator. This device allowed application of heat to a central area of 10 x 10 mm no more than 1°C below the preset temperature. Within the area of 1 cm², the percentage of damaged (ruptured or thrombosed) vessels was estimated for each type of hepatic vasculature. Vascular damage following hyperthermia continued up to 24 h after heating for the three types of hepatic vasculature. Central veins were the most thermosensitive followed by portal veins, whereas hepatic arterioles were the most thermoresistant. The temperature causing 50% vascular damage 24 h after heating was 41.5–42.5°C, 42.5–43.5°C, and 44–45°C for central veins, portal veins, and arterioles, respectively. This differential thermal responsiveness of hepatic vasculature may be attributed to the histological structure of the vessels.

¹ Supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (61010041, 61015038) from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan.

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed.

Received 1/ 5/89. Revised 4/10/89. Accepted 4/27/89.