Objective   To study the effect of graft warm ischemia injury on peribiliary vascular plexus in rats after liver transplantation.  Methods   One hundred and eight receptor SD rats were divided into sham operation group (normal group)

no warm ischemia injury group (control group)

10-minute warm ischemia injury group (experimental group)

36 rats in each group. Nine rats in each group were killed on days 1

3

7 and 14

respectively

after operation. ALP

GGT

DBIL and IBIL in each group were detected. Liver tissue sections were stained with HE and cellulose to observe changes in morphology of peribiliary vascular plexus and structure of bile duct. Ultra-structures of bile duct epithelium and vascular endothelial cells of peribiliary vascular plexus were observed under electron microscope.  Results  The serum ALP

GGT

DBIL and IBIL levels were significantly higher in experimental group than in control and normal groups all time points after operation（P0.05）and restored to the normal was later.  HE and cellulose staining showed that the damage of peribiliary vascular plexus and bile duct was severer in experimental group than in control and normal groups after operation. Micro-thrombosis was observed in peribiliary vascular plexus of experimental group after operation. Electron microscopy showed severe damage of vascular endothelial cells and hypoxic-ischemic changes in bile duct epithelial cells in experimental group after operation.  Conclusion   Warm ischemia-reperfusion injury can lead to damage of peribiliary vascular plexus and hypoxic-ischemic changes in bile duct epithelial cells after liver transplantation

which may be an important reason for ischemic biliary lesion and transient intrahepatic cholestasis after liver transplantation.