title: The isolated perfused rat spleen. An original method for studying the function of hepatocytes transplanted into the spleen.
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess directly the function of isolated hepatocytes 1 year after transplantation into the spleen, using an original model of isolated rat-spleen perfusion. Three specific liver functions, albumin synthesis, indocyanine-green clearance, and antipyrine oxidation, were studied. Five x 10(6) isolated hepatocytes were injected into the spleen of syngenic Wistar-Furth rats. One year later, splenectomy was performed, and the splenic pedicle was carefully isolated in order to allow a selective ex vivo perfusion for 3 hr. De novo albumin synthesis was studied by qualitatively using immunoelectrophoresis and autoradiography, and quantitatively using (35S)-methionine incorporation in albumin. De novo albumin synthesis was observed in spleens containing transplanted hepatocytes but not in controls (P less than 0.001); (35S)-methionine incorporation was significantly higher in spleens containing transplanted hepatocytes than in controls (132 +/- 67 cpm/spleen/hr vs. 14 +/- 6 cpm/spleen/hr, P less than 0.001). Antipyrine clearance was significantly higher in spleens with transplanted hepatocytes than in controls (67.4 +/- 4.9 microliters/min/g vs. 0.2 +/- 0.4 microliters/min/g, P less than 0.01). No statistically significant difference was observed with indocyanine-green clearance (4.2 +/- 6.0 microliters/min/g, vs. 5.2 +/- 5.1 microliters/min/g, P greater than 0.05); this was probably due to the absence of compartmentation between the sinusoid and biliary sectors in this model. In conclusion, using this original isolated rat-spleen perfusion model, it was directly observed that 1 year after transplantation, intrasplenic hepatocytes can perform two liver-specific functions, i.e., de novo albumin synthesis and antipyrine clearance.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U.181, Centre de Chirurgie Digestive, Hôpital Saint-Antoine, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Panis
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Puts
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ballet
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Penin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Delelo
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Verthier
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nordlinger
mesh_terms: D000418:Albumins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000818:Animals; D000983:Antipyrine / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008657:Metabolic Clearance Rate; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010477:Perfusion; D051381:Rats; D011920:Rats, Inbred WF; D013154:Spleen; D016042:Transplantation, Heterotopic / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000418:Albumins; D007208:Indocyanine Green; D000983:Antipyrine