High-yield preparation of porcine hepatocytes for long survival after transplantation in the spleen.

The creation of an auxiliary liver by autotransplantation of liver parenchymal cells into the spleen has mainly been studied in rats for the treatment of acute liver failure. In order to apply this procedure to humans with chronic liver insufficiency the aim of this work was: To demonstrate that hepatocytes can survive for long periods after autotransplantation into the spleen; to increase the yield of the isolation of hepatocytes obtained from pig livers since this animal has a more fibrous liver than rats or normal humans and consequently one which is more difficult to dissociate. In 21 pigs isolated hepatocytes were obtained with in collagenase dissociation technique, the yield being 1-3 X 10(7) cells per gram of liver and the viability 70-95%. The hepatocytes survived and maintained normal morphological and histochemical characteristics up to 7 months after transplantation, the date of sacrifice of the last animal.