Hepatocellular transplantation in rats with toxic induced liver failure: results of iso-, allo- and xenografts.

Intrasplenic hepatocytes transplantation was carried out in Wistar-Lewis strain inbred rats, after inducing acute hepatic failure by intravenous injection of Dimethylnitrosamine (DMNA) (30 mg/kg). Iso-, allo-(CDF-Fisher strain) and xenogeneic (New Zealand White rabbit) grafts were performed. Liver cells suspension was obtained by mechanical separation. The results demonstrated the efficacy of iso- and allotransplants, but not of xenogeneic hepatocytes, in improving significantly the survival rate compared to the control group. It is concluded that immunogenicity of liver cells is a factor which must be taken into consideration in hepatocyte transplantation. Moreover the absence of liver cells into the spleen at one week after the transplant seems to suggest that an intact liver cell is not necessary to improve survival.