HEPATOCELLULAR TRANSPLANTATION INTO THE LUNG IN CHRONIC LIVER-FAILUREFOLLOWING BILE-DUCT OBSTRUCTION IN THE RAT

Injection of hepatocytes or cell-free supernatant into the lung was ab le to prevent death from surgically induced fulminant hepatic failure in the rat in over 90% and 53% of subjects, respectively. The aim of t his study was to investigate whether this technique can be applied in chronic liver failure. Chronic liver failure was induced in Lewis rats by ligation and transection of the common bile duct, which led to cir rhosis after 3-5 wk in all animals. Four groups of animals were formed : group 1 (n = 5), normal rats, serving as control; group 2 (n = 15), cirrhotic rats, no further treatment; group 3 (n = 14), hepatocyte tra nsplantation by injection of cell suspension transcutaneously into the right lung of cirrhotic animals four wk after bile duet ligation; gro up 4 (n = 17), injection of 1 mL cell-free supernatant intravenously a t two-day intervals, starting 4 wk after ligation. Liver function test s, prothrombin time and serum protein levels were measured weekly befo re and every two days after transplantation. In group 2 all animals ha d died 56 (49-69) days after ligation. Survival in groups 3 and 4 was similar: all rats had died from liver failure 61 (51-72) and 60 (49-76 ) days following bile duct ligation. Survival rates and laboratory inv estigations showed no significant differences between treated and untr eated cirrhotic animals. These data suggest that hepatocyte transplant ation into the lung as well as supernatant injection do not have any s ignificant effect on chronic hepatic failure, at least in the rat mode l.