Isolation and cultivation of porcine hepatocytes for extracorporeal artificial liver support system

VernacularTitle:人工肝脏体外支持系统的成年猪肝细胞分离和培养
From: Chinese Medical Journal 2001;114(9):946-949
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Objective　To develop procedures for the successful harvesting of large quantities of viable and functional pig liver cells from abattoir organs. Methods　The procedure included partial liver lobe retrograde perfusion and mechanical/enzymatic digestion of the liver tissue, followed by separation of the hepatocytes, based on size and density, from contaminating cell types. Results　Digestion of the partial liver lobe resulted in an average yield of 1.39×109 cells (9.9×106 cells/g liver) with an average viability of 92.5%. The yield and viability of cells were improved by dispase/collagenase resultant digestion. The emergence of blebby cells was blocked by supplying oxygen to the cell isolation buffers. Isolated hepatocytes seeded onto polystyrene surfaces remained viable and functional at a level comparable to that of rat hepatocytes, although their function decreased over time. Conclusions　Adult pig hepatocytes can be harvested with high yields and retain viability and differentiated function using this method. Abattoir pig livers can be an excellent source of hepatocytes for use as the biological component of artificial liver assist devices.