EFFECT OF INTRAPERITONEAL ADMINISTRATION OF LIVER BIOMATRIX AND HEPATOCYTES ON RATS WITH D-GALACTOSAMINE INDUCED HEPATIC FAILURE

Abstract

We have reported that extracellular liver matrix (biomatrix) was a sufficient substrate for long term hepatocytes culture. In order to evaluate the ability of biomatrix-hepatocytes culture system for developing hybrid type artificial liver using cultured hepatocytes, biomatrix-hepatocytes were administered intraperitoneally to the rats withal-galactosamine (d-GalN) induced hepatic failure. The biomatrixhepatocytes treated group showed statistically higher survival rate than control groups on the 4th day after treatment. These finding suggests that this biomatrixhepatocytes culture system is one of the prominent candidates for a biological liver support system.