LONG-TERM CULTIVATION OF FUNCTIONALLY-ACTIVE HUMAN FETAL HEPATOCYTES

  • 1 January 1978
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 59  (5) , 482-488
Abstract
Livers from human fetuses obtained from terminations of pregnancy by suction were used to establish long-term cultures of hepatocytes. Functional activities of the hepatocellular population in these cultures were monitored by immunoperoxidase staining during and up to the 90 day life of the cultures. Intracellular localization of albumin and .alpha.-fetoprotein in cultures of the same age and from the same specimen indicate that syntheses of these 2 markers in fetal hepatocytes occur simultaneously. No qualitative differences were observed in the biosynthetic capacity of the cells maintained in tissue culture medium with and without serum. Fibroblast-like cells seen in the almost homogeneous population of hepatocytes did not stain for albumin and .alpha.-fetoprotein.