A rat model for study of bilirubin conjugation by a cultured cell/ artificial capillary liver assist device

The Gunn rat, congenitally lacking the conjugating enzyme glucuronyl transferase, provides an animal model for the study of bilirubin conjugation by an extracorporeal liver assist device (LAD) composed of cultured cells and artificial capillaries. Rat hepatoma cells of the H4-II-E cell line able to form conjugated bilirubin glucuronide from bilirubin were grown to tissue density by circumfusion culture of the LAD before symbiotic hemoperfusion experiments lasting up to 24 hours. Rat bile was analyzed by thin layer chromatography for bilirubin glucuronide which was formed by the device and then excreted by the rat.