EFFECTS OF ISO AND XENO FETAL LIVER FRAGMENTS TRANSPLANTATION ON ACUTE AND CHRONIC LIVER-FAILURE IN RATS

Isogeneic (rat) and xenogeneic (swine) fetal liver fragments (FLF) tra nsplantation into the omentum was performed for D-galactosamine (D-Gal )-induced acute and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced chronic hepati c failure in rats. The recipients that had iso or xeno FLF showed high er survival rates than the nontransplanted controls on a lethal dose ( 2.6 g/kg body weight) of D-Gal (survival rates: Iso 70%, Xeno 80%, and control 9.1%). On a sublethal dose (1.0 or 1.2 g/kg) of D-Gal, iso, o r xeno FLF caused marked improvement of the values of GPT, GOT, and to tal bilirubin (T.Bil); at 72 h after D-Gal injection they went signifi cantly lower than those of controls (Iso vs. control; p < 0.01, Xeno v s. control; p < 0.05). Histological examination of the livers revealed severe damage in controls, however, only a slight damage was found in iso or xeno FLF transplanted rats. Iso grafts were fairly well preser ved in the omentum at 72 h posttransplants, however, xeno graft had al most changed into a necrotic tissue. CCl4 was administered subcutaneou sly for 14 wk to induce chronic hepatic failure and then iso FLF were transplanted 3 days after the last CCl4 injection. Iso FLF transplante d rats showed higher improvement of GPT and GOT values at 12 days post transplants compared with controls (GPT p < 0.01, GOT p < 0.05), altho ugh histological improvement was not so remarkable in both group. Iso grafts formed nodules with many hepatocytes in the omentum 12 days pos ttransplant. The results indicate that iso or xeno FLF transplantation could be an alternative approach for incurable liver insufficiencies.