Metabolic activity of microcarrier attached liver cells after intraperitoneal transplantation during severe liver insufficiency in the rat

D. K. Bosman, J. G. de Haan, J. Smit, G. G. Jorning, M. A. Maas, R. A. Chamuleau

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Abstract

Short- and long-term effects of intraperitoneally transplanted microcarrier attached liver cells (MAL) have been studied in two experimental models of severe liver insufficiency in the rat: subtotal hepatectomy (HX) and acute liver ischemia. Intraperitoneal transplantation of MAL immediately after subtotal hepatectomy resulted in a significantly lower plasma ammonia level, a higher caffeine clearance, a higher urea production and a significantly smaller loss in body weight in comparison to sham transplanted control rats. Since thymidine kinase activity in the regenerating host liver was only significantly stimulated at t = 48 h it is concluded that the observed metabolic effects are mainly due to the metabolic activity of the transplanted MAL, although a small stimulative effect of MAL-TX on host liver regeneration cannot be excluded. In the course of acute liver ischemia, MAL transplantation results in delayed development of acute hepatic encephalopathy (HE), judged by clinical grading, EEG spectral analysis and Visual Evoked Response (VER) parameters. Furthermore, MAL transplantation is associated with less increased levels of plasma ammonia during acute liver ischemia
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)49-58
JournalJournal of Hepatology
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1989

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