Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2004. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 15, 2004; 10(14): 2099-2102
Published online Jul 15, 2004. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v10.i14.2099
Management of carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in rats by syngeneic hepatocyte transplantation in spleen and peritoneal cavity
Charalampos Pilichos, Despina Perrea, Maria Demonakou, Athena Preza, Ismini Donta
Charalampos Pilichos, Athena Preza, Third Department of Propaudeutic Surgery, University of Athens, Sotiria Hospital, Athens, Hellas
Despina Perrea, Ismini Donta, Laboratory of Experimental Surgery, University of Athens, Hellas
Maria Demonakou, Laboratory of Pathological Anatomy, Sismanogleion General Hospital, Athens, Hellas
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Dr. Charalampos Pilichos, Mpoumpoulinas 27-15341- Ag Paraskevi, Athens, Hellas (Greece). hpilichos@hotmail.com
Telephone: +30-210-6524097 Fax: +30-210-6524097
Received: January 2, 2004
Revised: January 8, 2004
Accepted: January 17, 2004
Published online: July 15, 2004
Abstract

AIM: Acute hepatitis may seldom have a fulminant course. In the treatment of this medical emergency, potential liver support measure must provide immediate and sufficient assistance to the hepatic function. The goal of our study was to study the adequacy of hepatocyte transplantation (HCTx) in two different anatomical sites, splenic parenchyma and peritoneal cavity, in a rat model of reversible acute hepatitis induced by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4).

METHODS: After CCl4 intoxication, 84 male Wistar rats used as recipients were divided in to four experimental groups accordingly to their treatment: Group A (n = 24): intrasplenic transplantation of 10 × 106 isolated hepatocytes, Group B (n = 24): intraperitoneal transplantation of 20 × 106 isolated hepatocytes attached on plastic microcarriers, Group C (n = 18): intrasplenic injection of 1 mL normal saline (sham-operated controls), Group D (n = 18): intraperitoneal injection of 2.5 mL normal saline (sham-operated controls). Survival, liver function tests (LFT) and histology were studied in all four groups, on d 2, 5 and 10 post-HCTx.

RESULTS: The ten-day survival (and mean survival) in the 4 groups was 72.2% (8.1 ± 3.1), 33.3% (5.4 ± 3.4), 0% (3.1 ± 1.3) and 33.3% (5.4 ± 3.6) in groups A, B, C, D, respectively (PAB < 0.05, PAC < 0.05, PBD = NS). In the final survivors, LFT (except alkaline phosphatase) and hepatic histology returned to normal, independently of their previous therapy. Viable hepatocytes were identified within splenic parenchyma (in group A on d 2) and both in the native liver and the fatty tissue of abdominal wall (in group B on d 5).

CONCLUSION: A significantly better survival of the intrasplenically transplanted animals has been demonstrated. Intraperitoneal hepatocytes failed to promptly engraft. A different timing between liver injury and intraperitoneal HCTx may give better results and merits further investigation.

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