Hepatocyte perfusion within a centrifuge.

A centrifuge, as used in blood banks for washing erythrocytes, is shown to be a good perfusion chamber for hepatocyte suspensions being evaluated for potential extracorporeal liver support. The perfusate was cell-free oxygenated--pO2 300 millimeters of mercury--plasma, serum or tissue culture medium. A centrifuge that requires intermittent perfusion cannot deliver sufficient oxygen to maintain prolonged viability. A continuous flow unit can, at a flow of 800 milliliters per minute, support most functions of 100 grams of hepatocytes for six hours and some function for 12 hours. Metabolism of 2-14C tagged pyruvate to 14CO2 is the most useful sensitive measurement of liver function in this system. It is concluded that a centrifuge allowing a constant perfusion of oxygenated plasma into hepatocytes kept within the unit by centrifugal force is a suitable base for extracorporeal liver support.