Hepatocyte perfusion within a centrifuge.
A centrifuge, as used in blood banks for washing erythrocytes, is shown to be a good perfusion chamber for hepatocyte suspensions being evaluated for potential extracorporeal liver support. The perfusate was cell-free oxygenated--pO2 300 millimeters of mercury--plasma, serum or tissue culture medium. A centrifuge that requires intermittent perfusion cannot deliver sufficient oxygen to maintain prolonged viability. A continuous flow unit can, at a flow of 800 milliliters per minute, support most functions of 100 grams of hepatocytes for six hours and some function for 12 hours. Metabolism of 2-14C tagged pyruvate to 14CO2 is the most useful sensitive measurement of liver function in this system. It is concluded that a centrifuge allowing a constant perfusion of oxygenated plasma into hepatocytes kept within the unit by centrifugal force is a suitable base for extracorporeal liver support.
D000818:Animals; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D002469:Cell Separation; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008102:Liver Circulation; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D003012:Microbial Collagenase; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010477:Perfusion / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D010949:Plasma; D011773:Pyruvates / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D014357:Trypsin
D011773:Pyruvates; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D014357:Trypsin; D003012:Microbial Collagenase; D010100:Oxygen