Multilocational hepatocyte transplantation for treatment of congenital ascorbic acid deficiency rats

We attempted multilocational hepatocyte transplantation (HCTx) including hepatocyte-bearing polyurethane foam (PUF) to treat congenitally ascorbic acid (AsA) biosynthetic enzyme-deficient (ODS-od/od) rats. Hepatocytes isolated from the liver of congeneic rats were transplanted into the portal vein (Pv), spleen (Sp), omentum (Om), and mesentery (Ms). Hepatocyte-bearing PUF was transplanted into the Om and Ms. Experimental groups were divided into four groups (group I; Pv + Sp, group II; Pv + Sp + Om + Ms, group III; Pv + Sp + hepatocyte-bearing PUF, group IV; control). The average serum AsA level of the surviving rats in group II and III was significantly higher than that in group I 3 mo after HCTx. Histological examination showed small foci of surviving hepatocytes in the Om and Ms tissues and in the connective tissue in the PUF. ODS-od/od rats survived for a long time by multilocational HCTx.