XENOGENIC TRANSPLANTATION OF MICROENCAPSULATED HEPATOCYTES - UREAGENESIS OF RETRIEVED ENCAPSULATED HEPATOCYTES

The microencapsulation technique is being used successfully in various types of cells for providing a substratum for long-term survival and immunoprotection to immobilized transplanted cells. Rat hepatocytes we re microencapsulated in alginic acid poly-l-lysine membrane and transp lanted intraperitoneally in rabbits. The animals were followed up to s tudy the functional capacity of transplanted hepatocytes by assessing ureagenesis and the efficacy of the capsule membrane to provide a phys ical barrier between the host's immune system and the encapsulated hep atocytes, assessed by no evidence of hepatocyte rejection by the host for up to 2 months, The transplanted animals were sacrificed by cervic al dislocation after 15, 30, 45 and 60 days. The transplanted capsules were retrieved and the hepatocytes were studied for their capacity fo r ureagenesis. The capsules were found intact even after 60 days of tr ansplantation. The retrieval was 75% with 80% of viable cells displayi ng normal functional capacity to produce urea. Therefore, it may be co ncluded that the microencapsulation technique is effective in maintain ing functional capacity and providing a physical barrier between the h ost's immune system and immobilized cells.