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Evaluation of a hybrid artificial liver using a polyurethane foam packed-Bed culture system in dogs
1Second Department of Surgery, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan.
Background And Aims:
We developed a polyurethane foam packed-bed culture system of hepatocyte spheroids as a hybrid artificial liver (PUF-HAL), which was effective for recovery from liver failure in rat experiments. In this report, the design of a scaled-up PUF-HAL for dogs is described and evaluated using a dog acute liver failure model.
Methods:
Warm ischemic liver failure was induced with a portocaval shunt in each dog. The dogs were divided into two groups: (1) a control group (N = 4), in which each dog was attached to a PUF-HAL without hepatocytes for 9 h, and (2) a HAL group (N = 5), in which each dog was attached to a PUF-HAL with hepatocytes. Blood pressure, blood ammonia, blood glucose, serum creatinine, and other parameters related to liver function were compared between the two groups.
Results:
In the HAL group, blood ammonia and serum creatinine levels were significantly lower, and blood pressure and blood glucose levels significantly higher, than those in the control group.
Conclusions:
The scaled-up PUF-HAL developed for large animals is useful as a liver support system in the dog acute liver failure model.
