Influence of the time of hepatocyte infusion on liver transplantation outcome.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Donor-derived hepatocytes infused into recipient rats before liver transplantation can improve the results of liver transplantation in rats. However, the appropriate time when the hepatocytes were infused before transplantation is needed to be explored. METHODOLOGY: All the rats were randomly divided into five groups, the recipient rats were infused with donor-derived hepatocytes at different points of time before transplantation (Group A received the injection one week prior to the transplantation; group B, two weeks prior to the transplantation; group C, three weeks; and group D, four weeks; the control group did not receive hepatocytes infusion). The alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and albumin (ALB) levels were tested and the survival time was recorded. RESULTS: The survival times of recipient rats in group B was the longest among the five groups. The level of serum ALT and ALP in group B were the lowest and the level of ALB was the highest among the five groups. CONCLUSIONS: In order to achieve the best result following liver transplantation, infusion of hepatocytes two weeks before liver transplantation was determined to be the optimal time.