Human hepatocyte cultures: a model of pharmaco-toxicological studies.
Viable adult human hepatocytes were obtained in large yields by perfusion of the liver of kidney donors. The hepatocytes were cultured either alone or in association with rat-liver epithelial cells. In pure culture the survival of hepatocytes did not exceed two to three weeks, while in co-culture they survived for several weeks and better retained the specific liver functions of albumin secretion, cytochrome P-450 content and glucuronidation of drugs. Human hepatocytes, particularly when mixed with rat-liver epithelial cells, may provide a valuable tool for predicting the metabolic pathways and hepatotoxicity of new drugs in man.
D000328:Adult; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D007665:Ketotifen / Q000378:metabolism; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D007700:Kinetics; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D014019:Tissue Donors
D012709:Serum Albumin; D004917:Erythromycin; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D007665:Ketotifen