Objective: To investigate whether human L02 hepatocytes could survive after implanting them into normal, immunocompetent rats.
Methods: Human L02 hepatocytes were injected through the uterine walls into the intraperitoneal cavities of fetal Sprague-Dawley rats to induce immune tolerance to human L02 hepatocytes. Human L02 hepatocytes stained with DiI were implanted into the spleens of the 2-week old rats. Immuno-fluorescent staining, SP immunohistochemistry, and DiI staining were used to detect human albumin and specific proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in the rat livers. The distribution of human L02 hepatocytes was observed under the fluorescent microscope.
Results: Dynamic distribution of human L02 hepatocytes in the rat livers was observed from the 1st to the 10th week after the implantation. Human albumin was detected at 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks, and at the 4th week it had the highest level. Specific human PCNA was detected in the rat livers from the 2nd to the 6th week after implantation. The PCNA positive cells were most abundant at the 4th week.
Conclusion: Human L02 hepatocytes can survive and proliferate for 10 weeks after implanting them into genetically normal immunocompetent rats.