Study of porcine hepatocyte-entrapped bioartificial liver in surgery-induced fulminant hepatic failure rabbits

• This work established a hollow fibers-based BAL system on a simple surgical-induced FHF rabbit model.
• Fresh isolated porcine hepatocytes were entrapped into the extra-capillary space of the hollow fiber bioreactor.
• BAL supported group remained ICP level less than 10 mmHg and more stable ammonia concentration after FHF induction.
• Our results indicated the BAL system can prolonged the survival time and delayed the increase of intracranial pressure.

ICP is an important cause of mortality in fulminant hepatic failure. The aim of this study was to prolonged survival in surgery-induced FHF rabbit with BAL. Four hours after induction of FHF, rabbits were connected to a 4-h whole blood perfusion through the BAL containing 1.2 × 109 fresh isolated porcine hepatocytes (estimated 30% of liver volume of rabbit) via an arterial-venous shunt. Survival times in control group, sham-BAL group and BAL group were14.4 ± 4.4 h, 12.6 ± 2.6 h and 22.6 ± 5.2 h, respectively (BAL vs. control, p = 0.026; BAL vs. sham-BAL, p = 0.006). BAL group remain ICP level less than 10 mmHg for near 13 h after FHF induction while 19 and 15 mmHg were observed in control and sham-BAL groups, respectively. BAL containing porcine hepatocytes significantly prolonged survival time by delayed increase of intracranial pressure compared with the control and sham-BAL groups.