THE EFFECT OF OXYGEN-TRANSPORT RESISTANCES ON THE VIABILITY AND FUNCTIONS OF ISOLATED RAT HEPATOCYTES

The treatment of fulminant hepatic failure with a bioartificial liver support device relies on the possibility of replacing the detoxificati on and synthetic functions of the injured liver for as long as needed for patient recovery. In spite of progress in cell culture techniques, the effective use of isolated hepatocytes in liver support devices is currently hampered by a lack of information on the metabolic factors limiting long term hepatocyte culture. In this paper, we report our in vestigation on the effects of oxygen transport resistances on the viab ility and functions of isolated rat hepatocytes cultured on collagen c oated Petri dishes. Detoxification and synthetic functions of the hepa tocytes were studied with respect to ammonia and phenolsulphonphthalei n elimination and urea synthesis. Lower resistances to oxygen transpor t favored hepatocyte survival. The isolated hepatocytes synthesized ur ea at rates that decreased as the resistance to oxygen transport incre ased. The rate at which urea was synthesized also decreased during the culture. Neither PSP, nor ammonia elimination rate was greatly affect ed by increasing oxygen transport resistances and remained rather cons tant up to a week of culture.