Transfer of Bilirubin Uridine Diphosphate-Glucuronyltransferase to Enzyme-Deficient Rats

Abstract

Cells from a clonal strain (MH(1)C(1)) of rat hepatoma were transplanted subcutaneously into two homozygous Gunn rats, which are jaundiced because the enzyme bilirubin uridine diphosphate-glucuronyltransferase is absent from the liver. Because of the enzyme activity present in the transplanted cells, the recipient rats developed the capacity to conjugate bilirubin and reverted in large part to a normal pattern of bilirubin excretion.