Long‐Term in Vitro Function of Adult Hepatocytes in a Collagen Sandwich Configuration

• DOI: 10.1021/bp00009a007
• Publication Date: 2005-03-08T02:38:27Z
• Authors: James C. Y. Dunn; Ronald G. Tompkins; Martin L. Yarmush
• Keywords: Time Factors; Proteins; Actins; Culture Media; Rats; Bile Acids and Salts; Tendons; Liver; Rats, Inbred Lew; Inactivation, Metabolic; Animals; Urea; Female; Collagen; Cells, Cultured

Abstract In an effort to reconstruct the cellular polarity normally found in liver, adult rat hepatocytes were sandwiched between two layers of hydrated tail tendon collagen matrix. Functionally, maintained secretion albumin, transferrin, fibrinogen, bile acids, and urea for at least 6 weeks, whereas cells cultured on a single layer gel ceased such 1–2 weeks. After 1 week culture gel, could still recover these lost functions when second was applied. The exact nature substrate constructing sandwich system appeared be unimportant as long it allowed attachment. Hepatocytes maintain distribution actin filaments similar vivo state, showed abnormal formation stress fibers. These studies suggest that simple manipulations configuration extracellular elements can dramatically alter behavior hepatocytes.