Determination of Optimal Incubation Media and Suitable Slice Diameters in Precision-Cut Liver Slices: Optimization of Tissue Slice Culture, Part 2

Abstract

To validate tissue slice methodology in experiments from one laboratory to another, it is important to optimize slice viability. The effects of different culture media and slice diameters were investigated in this study. Rat and mouse liver slices (200 μm thick) were placed in either Krebs/Hepes, Kxebs/bicarbonate, Waymouth's/Hepes, or Waymouth's/bicarbonate to assess the effects of nutrient-enriched and nutrient-deprived media as well as the effects of a Hepes-or bicarbonate-based medium on slice viability. Overall, an enriched and bicarbonate-based medium maintained slice viability better. Determination of suitable slice diameters was achieved by incubating 6- and 8-mm-diameter rat, mouse, and dog liver slices in Waymouth's/bicarbonate media for 24 h. For both rat and mouse liver slices, the 8-mm-diameter slices were better maintained than the 6-mm slices, whereas both diameters were equivalent for dog liver slices. Various nutrient-enriched media were also compared for their ability to maintain rat liv...