title: Hepatocytes immobilised by microencapsulation in artificial cells: effects on hyperbilirubinemia in Gunn rats.
abstract: The possibility of using hepatocytes encapsulated in a calcium-alginate-polylysine matrix to lower bilirubin levels in hyperbilirubinemia was investigated. The animal model was the Gunn rat. The microencapsulated hepatocytes were injected intraperitoneally. 15 X 10(6) microencapsulated hepatocytes from Wistar rats, lowered the bilirubin from 14 mg/100 ml to 6 mg/100 ml after 20 days. The bilirubin is still depressed after 90 days. After encapsulation, Sprague-Dawley hepatocytes were as effective as free hepatocytes in lowering bilirubin levels in Gunn rats. After 68 days, the free Sprague-Dawley hepatocytes were not rejected.
authors.affiliation: Artificial Cells and Organs Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bruni
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D002214:Capsules; D003414:Crigler-Najjar Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006933:Hyperbilirubinemia, Hereditary / Q000628:therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011911:Rats, Gunn; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D002214:Capsules; D001663:Bilirubin