RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the possibility of transplantation of adrenocortical cells to treat insufficiency of adrenocortical function using poly-?-hybroxybutyric acid (PHB) as cell carrier.Methods Adrenocortical cells were seeded to PHB and then implanted into rats bearing bilateral adrenalectomy, while adenocortical cells implanted into the similar rats as a contrast. The changes of blood corticosterone and aldostenone and local histological changes in these rats were observed.Results The blood corticosterone and aldostenone were elevated after transplantation. The levels of blood corticosterone and aldostenone in PHB group were higher than that of control group. Histological study showed that adenocortical cells in PHB grew well.Conclusion The implanted adrenocortical cells within PHB can not only survive in rat body but also secrete corticostenone and aldostenrone which can satisfy the need of adrenalectomized rats. It is more effective to use PHB in adrenocortical cell transplantation than that cell implanted singly.