Transplantation of cryopreserved hepatocytes or liver cytosol injection in the treatment of acute liver failure in rats.

Intraperitoneally injected cryopreserved hepatocytes or liver cytosol were used for the treatment of acute galactosamine-induced liver failure in rats. Both methods were similarly capable to improve the survival rates as compared to control groups. Furthermore, a new viability test for transplanted hepatocytes, using a nuclearmedical tracer technique, was evaluated in this study. This test demonstrated viability of intraperitoneally transplanted hepatocytes for at least 6 days after operation. Cytosol injection should be preferred to hepatocyte transplantation in the treatment of acute liver failure, avoiding the problems of cell storage and post-transplant immunosuppression.