Kupffer cell and hepatocyte function in rat transplanted liver.

The liver consists essentially of two compartments, parenchymal cells (PC) and non parenchymal cells (NPC) i. e. Kupffer cells, endothelial cells, fat storing cells and pit cells. PC remain after transplantation but NPC are eventually exchanged with host cells. Dynamic liver scintigraphy with albumin colloid, extracted by NPC, and IODIDA, extracted by PC, were tested to evaluate function as determined by clearance rates in these two cellular compartments. Experimental liver transplantation was performed in 15 syngeneic rats. Following transplantation, we performed dynamic liver scintigraphy with 0.5 ml 5 MBq 99mTc-Nanocoll and 0.5 ml 20 MBq 99mTc-IODIDA, 10 s per frame, 30 min for each examination. Percentage clearance rate, per minute was calculated from uptake curves over the liver. Uptake curves were nearly exponential and clearance rates could be estimated from a logarithmic plot of uptake versus time. The clearance rate was 25 +/- 4% per min (mean +/- SD) for NPC and 32 +/- 15% per min for PC in controls. After liver transplantation it was 31 +/- 7% per min for NPC and 30 +/- 15% per min for PC. Dynamic liver scintigraphy with 99mTc-Nanocoll and 99mTc-IODIDA alloweds a separate assessment of the function of PC and NPC after experimental liver transplantation in rats.