An Experimental Study On The Treatment Of Radiation-Induced Liver Damage By Hepatocyte Transplantation

OBJECTIVE : To study the metabolic support action of transplanted hepatocytes in themodel of radiation-induced liver damage(RILD), and to evaluate the therapeutic effects of transplanted hepatocytes in RILD.METNODS : The models were made by exposing rats liver to 60Co irradiation , the dose being 40Gy, and the dose ratio l00cG/min. Four days later, the rats were underwent partial hepatectomy. Cells were isolated with a modified collagenase perfusion method: First, perfuse the liver with PBS( free of Ca2+ and Mg2+), removing Ca2+ and Mg2+ from liver tissue. Sequently, perfuse the liver with Type IVcollagenase until it turned pale. After filtered and centrifuged, cell concentration was adjusted to 5.0 X 106/ml and then suspended in RPMI1640. Cell viability was determind by typan blue dye exclusion.Animals were divided into two groups randomly. In the experimental group, 5.0 X 106 hepatocytes were injected into the spleens while the control underwent nature saline injection in the same places. Blood samples were obtained at an interval of one month to measure the serum albumin of the two groups, and histopathological changes were evaluated by pathological and electron microscopic examination. The survival rates of the two group were observed dynamically.RESULTS : One month after hepatocytes transplantation(HT), serum albumin level of the experimental group ascended obviously, having significant differences with that of the control. Still one month later, it ascended progressively , showing significant differences with that of the control as well as with itself 1 month earlier. Both the differences of mortality rates of the two groups 1 month and 2 monthes after HT show statistical significence . Histological examination suggest that radiative damage were ameliorated in the experimental group compared with that of the control.CONCLUSIONS : Using a modified two-step collagenase perfusion method, we get hepatocytes suspension with high cell purification and viability. After transplanted into the spleen of the RILD model, congeneic rat hepatocyte can provide fairly good metabolic support and ameliorate the short-term survival rate in the model.