title: Precision cut tissue slices of the liver as morphological tool for investigation of apoptosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Apoptosis, programmed cell death, is involved in a broad range of pathological processes. Dysregulation of apoptosis plays a key role in the pathogenesis of hepatitis, toxic liver disease and also liver tumor development. For the study of apoptosis in liver diseases, different in vivo models and different in vitro approaches have been developed. They include cell culture models based on hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines or isolated primary hepatocytes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We have established precision cut tissue slices (PCTS) of the liver as a morphological tool for the study of apoptosis. From porcine livers, PCTS were prepared and incubated in a static system with different types and amounts of media. Viability, morphology, spontaneous apoptosis and proliferation were investigated. Apoptosis was induced with actinomycin D and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Morphology and viability was well preserved for at least 24 h. After 48 h, deterioration with single and group cell autolysis was seen. There was a low rate of spontaneous apoptosis and proliferation. Using a combination of TNF alpha and actinomycin D, a significant amount of apoptosis occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PCTS can be used to directly analyse apoptosis at the tissue level in a qualitative and quantitative manner.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Cologne, Joseph-Stelzmann-Str. 9, D-50931 Koeln, Germany. hans-udo.kasper@uni-koeln.de
authors.forename: Hans-Udo
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Kasper
authors.forename: Volker
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dries
authors.forename: Uta
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Drebber
authors.forename: Michael Andre
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.forename: Hans Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Dienes
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schirmacher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008099:Liver / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D013552:Swine; D014021:Tissue Preservation