Transplanted isolated hepatocytes: effect of partial hepatectomy on proliferation of long-term syngeneic implants in rat spleen.

Proliferation of isolated hepatocytes in long-term splenic implants was assessed by flash labelling with a 1 pulse of tritiated thymidine (3H TdR). Cell kinetics showed that the basal labelling index was 0.9% which was greater than normal non-regenerating liver. Twenty four hours following partial hepatectomy the labelling index was 2.0%, a significant rise. These results suggest that hepatocytes transplanted to the spleen constitute a suitable model for screening putative hepatotrophic factors, and are of relevance in establishing clinically useful models of hepatocyte transplantation.