[Prevention of ischemic injury in hepatocellular transplant in the rat]

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of certain antioxidant and/or hepatotrophic drugs on the sensitivity to ischemia of hepatocytes implanted into the spleen. Twenty four hours after hepatocellular transplantation, animals were submitted to 15 minutes of normotermic ischemia followed by 70% hepatectomy. Hepatocytic function was assessed 24 h later by measuring the intensity of the regenerative response, both in the liver and in the spleen. All drugs increased the percentage of regenerating hepatocytes, but only allopurinol and cyclosporine achieved significance. However none of the drugs were useful for hepatocytes implanted in the spleen, allopurinol having a deleterious effect.