Culture with Growth Factor Supplements Improves the Viability and Function of Rat Hepatocytes.
10.4285/jkstn.2015.29.3.139
- Author:
Gun Hyung NA
1
;
Dong Goo KIM
;
Eun Sun JUNG
Author Information
1. Department of Surgery, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea. kimdg@catholic.ac.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Culture;
Epidermal growth factor;
Hepatocytes;
Insulin;
Rats
- MeSH:
Ammonia;
Animals;
Eosine Yellowish-(YS);
Epidermal Growth Factor;
Fluorescent Antibody Technique;
Hematoxylin;
Hepatocytes*;
Insulin;
Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins;
Liver;
Perfusion;
Rats*;
Receptors, Albumin;
Urea
- From:The Journal of the Korean Society for Transplantation
2015;29(3):139-147
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: To identify the optimum culture conditions by investigating isolated rat hepatocytes cultured in medium containing different growth factors. METHODS: Hepatocytes were isolated from rats using a two-step perfusion technique and divided into the following four groups cultured in medium containing different growth factors: control, epidermal growth factor (EGF), insulin, and EGF+insulin. The viability of the cultured rat hepatocytes and liver function parameters, including albumin, ammonia, and urea in the culture medium, were measured. Hepatocyte morphology was examined by staining with hematoxylin and eosin, and albumin receptor expression was confirmed by immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Slightly higher viability was observed in the growth factor groups than in the control group, although without significance (P=0.073). The levels of albumin (P=0.001), ammonia (P<0.001), and urea (P=0.041) differed significantly among the four groups. The functional parameters in the growth factor groups, particularly the EGF+insulin group, were significantly superior to those in the control group. The morphology of the hepatocytes in all growth factor groups was well maintained at 10 days. However, the control group showed deterioration in cell morphology by day 7. CONCLUSIONS: Morphological and functional assessment indicated that the presence of growth factors, particularly EGF+insulin, provided culture conditions superior to those of non-supplemented medium.
