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Background Biliary atresia (BA) is the most common indication for liver transplantation in children. The experimental model of BA, induced by rotavirus infection in neonatal mice, has been widely used to investigate the inflammatory aspects of this disease. We investigated the kinetics and the localization of the viral infection in this murine model. Methods In this study 399 animals were employed for a detailed investigation of rhesus rotavirus (RRV)-induced BA. RRV kinetics was analyzed by rtPCR and its (sub) cellular localization investigated using whole mounts which were further processed for confocal and electron microscopy. Results The BA mouse model resulted in up to 100% induction of atresia following RRV injection. The kinetics of RRV infection differed between liver and extrahepatic bile ducts. While the virus peak up to day 10 postinfection was similar in both organs, the virus remained detectable in extrahepatic bile duct cells up to day 21. Interestingly, RRV particles were localized not only in cholangiocytes but also in cells of the subepithelial layers, potentially macrophages. Conclusions RRV remains present in the extrahepatic bile duct cells after an initial virus peak. Viral particles were detected in subepithelial cells in contrast to the described tropism toward cholangiocytes.

Purpose Laparoscopy has been associated with lower inflammatory responses. However, it has been postulated that minilaparotomy, in contrast to full laparotomy, is equally minimally invasive. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate local, systemic, and distant organ immune responses after different surgical approaches to the abdominal cavity, such as minilaparotomy, full laparotomy, and laparoscopy, in a small animal model. Methods Male Lewis rats received a permanent central venous catheter and were randomized to 4 groups (n = 6 per group). The animals were subjected to anesthesia alone (control), minilaparotomy (1 cm), full laparotomy (7 cm), or laparoscopy for 60 minutes. Blood was collected via the central venous catheter before as well as 1 hour and 6 hours after the start of intervention. Peritoneal and bronchoalveolar lavages, as well as heart puncture, were performed after 24 hours. Results All surgical interventions led to a significant migration of polymorphonucleocytes into the abdominal cavity. Full laparotomy resulted in a significant increase in nitric oxide production by peritoneal macrophages as compared with control. Macrophage nitric oxide production after laparoscopy and minilaparotomy was not significantly different. A shift in the expression of OX-6 and CD54 was only detected after full laparotomy. Systemically, O 2 − release by circulating mononuclear cells was significantly increased after minilaparotomy and full laparotomy, but not after laparoscopy. The systemic levels of IL6 were significantly accelerated only after full laparotomy, with a maximum after 6 hours. In the lungs, function of alveolar macrophages was not altered in any group. Conclusions Any approach to the peritoneal cavity causes local inflammatory responses. Full laparotomy alters peritoneal macrophage functions more pronouncedly than does minilaparotomy or laparoscopy. Systemic inflammatory responses, such as free oxygen radical release, are significantly increased by both minilaparotomy and full laparotomy, whereas laparoscopy preserves systemic immune function. Our results may lead to further preference for the laparoscopic approach over minilaparotomy and full laparotomy.