Development of blood vessels of the greater omentum in the hepatic lobe after vascular ligation: an experimental model in the rats

PURPOSE: To verify the development of blood vessels between the greater omentum and the liver in the presence of distinct liver blood intake blockages. METHODS: Two hundred and eighty conventional male Wistar rats were used, divided into 5 groups: control (n=35), laparotomy (n=35); hepatic artery ligature (n=70), ligature of the right-hand branch of the portal vein (n=70); and ligature of both blood vessels (n=70). The last three groups were divided into two subgroups each (n=35), according to the presence or absence of the transposition of the greater omentum onto the right hepatic lobe. The postoperative periods were 1, 3, 7, 15, 30, 60 and 90 days. At the end of each period, the greater omentum and right hepatic lobe were collected for histopathological examination. The presence of blood vessels between the referred tissues was verified by the administration of Indian ink as a marker of vascular lumen. RESULTS: Macroscopic and microscopic observation and the dye marker demonstrated the distribution of blood vessels between the greater omentum and liver tissues. CONCLUSION: The greater omentum was capable of developing blood vessels when fixed to the parenchyma of the liver after the suppression of hepatic blood flow