title: Culture of porcine hepatocytes: the dogma of exogenous matrix revisited.
abstract: The use of exogenous matrices has been described as an essential component in securing the viability and functionality of hepatocytes in vitro whether cultured for extracorporeal devices or cell transplantation. Here we report on the in vitro culture of porcine hepatocytes in polystyrene tissue-culture flasks without exogenous matrices showing adequate attachment and viability. Cell proliferation was evidenced by uptake of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine, with peaks at Days 2 (19.7 +/- 8.5%), 15 (20.8 +/- 3.3%), and 35 (21.4 +/- 0.3%). Detoxification capacity was assessed by determination of monoethylglycinexylidide, a product of lidocaine metabolism (highest value 156.5 +/- 10.1 ng/ml at Day 4), and by diazepam clearance (maximum clearance 66.2% at Day 6). Diazepam metabolite levels were highest at Day 4 both for temazepam and oxazepam (6.5 +/- 0.1 and 0.10 +/- 0.01, respectively). These results suggest that the need for an exogenous matrix to achieve sustained proliferative activity and differentiated hepatocyte function should not necessarily be considered a sine qua non condition.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Básicas y Medicina Experimental, Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Potosi 4240, Buenos Aires (C1199ACL), Argentina.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lorenti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Barbich
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hidalgo
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hyon
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sorroche
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Guinle
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schenone
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Chamoles
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Argibay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D003975:Diazepam / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D008012:Lidocaine; D003975:Diazepam