Cultures from adult rat liver cells. I. Establishment of monolayer cell-cultures from normal liver.

Abstract

AbstractEstablishment of monolayer cell‐cultures from adult normal rat liver is described using cells isolated by a collagenase‐hyaluronidase perfusion technique. The cells plated originally were polygonal in shape and contained a large number of mitochondria. However, cells with less granules were also observed in the primary culture, after a few days of plating. In subsequent subcultures, the latter type of cells could be grown continuously. After an initial lag, the cells attained a doubling time of 55 hours and a plating efficiency of 20%. The cells are “normal” with respect to their karyology, morphology and growth pattern. Difficulties encountered during the culture and the possible uses of these cultured cells in studies on carcinogenesis in vitro are discussed.