Background/aims: The results of liver transplantation were influenced by miscellaneous factors. The aim was the notion that hepatocyte infusions might improve results of liver transplantation in rats.
Methodology: Survival, serum analytes, FasL production, and histologic degree of rejection of transplanted rats pretreated with hepatocyte infusions (Hepatocyte) was compared to that of rats pretreated with either bone marrow cell infusions (Marrow) or saline infusions (Control).
Results: Hepatocyte rats had longer median survivals, less biochemical evidence of liver damage, more albumin production, a lower degree of histologic rejection, and increased FasL production than did either Marrow or Control rats (p < 0.05 for each analysis), which did not differ from one another (p > 0.05 for each analysis).
Conclusions: Hepatocyte infusions improve the results of liver transplantation in rats.