Optimization of the technique to isolate fetal hepatocytes, and assessmentof their functionality by transplantation

In contrast to adult hepatocytes, fetal hepatocytes (FH) are thought to be highly proliferative less immunogenic and more resistant to both cryopreser vation and ischemic injury. In the present study, we describe the method fo r isolation of FH and the relationship between the transplantability of FH into the spleen of analbuminemic rats and expression of albumin mRNA. Rat F H were obtained using the nonperfusion collagenase/DNase digestion method. Nagase analbuminemic rats (NAR), a strain which bears a mutation that deter mines the impossibility of the normal splicing of the albumin mRNA were use d as recipients. The transplanted FH immediately migrated to the liver via portal vein, and anchored there. To assess the functional state of the tran splanted cells, one month after transplantation, the expression of the albu min gene was studied in the liver of the recipients. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scie nce Inc. All rights reserved.