The effect of pancreatic islets on transplanted hepatocytes in the treatment of acute liver failure in rats.
We previously reported that co-transplantation of hepatocytes and islets of Langerhans in the spleen reduces the mortality rate after 90% hepatectomy in the rat. In the present study, we examined whether implantation of isolated hepatocytes into the pancreas is as efficient as co-transplantation of hepatocytes and islets in this respect. We found that cotransplantation of hepatocytes and islets into the renal subcapsule reduced the long-term (30-day) mortality rate after 90% hepatectomy from 100% to 36% (P less than 0.05) when performed the day before the hepatectomy. In contrast, there was no significant reduction of mortality when the hepatocytes were transplanted into the pancreas. The results show that a close proximity of transplanted pancreatic islets to the hepatocytes is of critical importance for the improved survival in acute liver failure.
Xiangdong
W
W
Department of Surgery, Lund University, Sweden.
Ar'Rajab
A
A
Ahrén
B
B
Andersson
R
R
Bengmark
S
S
D000818:Animals; D006085:Graft Survival; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D007668:Kidney; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013997:Time Factors; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic