Last update:
01-Mar-2001

Arch Hellen Med, 17(5), September-October 2000, 528-530

BRIEF REVIEW

The spleen as a site of transplantation and implantation
of hepatocytes and islets of Langerhans

C. FOTIADIS, A. PAPALOIS
3rd Department of Surgery, University of Athesn, School of Medicine,
“Sotiria” Hospital, Athens, Greece

Τhe spleen as a solid organ shows many experimental advantages as a site of transplantation and implantation of cells (hepatocytes and islets of Langerhans). This is a short review of contemporary experimental and clinical experience on this subject. The advantages of the spleen as a site of transplantation and implantation are (a) ease of surgical access, (b) both open surgical techniques and endoscopic procedures are applicable, (c) the spleen can tolerate without complications a large quantity of cells, (d) the cell transplantation does not abolish the function of the organ, (e) with appropriate surgical technique it is possible to avoid cell migration into other organs, (f) the cell transplantation does not cause hemodynamic complications, (g) as an organ the spleen has biochemical advantages for the transplanted cells, (h) in the experimental protocols a simple splenectomy provides easy proof of the support (insulin secretion, liver cell function) of the animal from the implanted cells.

Key words: Hepatocytes, Islets of Langerhans, Spleen, Transplantation.