Primary cultures of hepatocytes on human fibroblasts

Parenchymal hepatocytes isolated from adult rats were cultured on three types of collagen-containing substrata: collagen-coated plates, collagen membranes and confluent diploid human fibroblasts. Hepatocytes on the latter two substrata maintained characteristic morphology for at least 10 days in culture, whereas degenerative changes (cell death and formation of multinucleated hepatocytes) and growth of nonparenchymal elements were seen after 5 days in cultures on collagen-coated plates. Parallel findings were seen on basal and induced levels of cytochrome P-450 and NADPH-cytochrome C reductase. The basal levels of cytochrome P-450 were not measurable after day 3 in hepatocytes cultured on collagen-coated plates, whereas measurable levels were maintained in the hepatocytes cultured on the other two substrata. Addition of phenobarbital or methylcholanthrene at day 5 in culture caused an increase in cytochromes P-450 and P-448, respectively, only in hepatocytes cultured on collagen membranes and confluent fibroblasts. Analogous results were seen for the enzyme NADPH-cytochrome C reductase. The similarities in performance between hepatocytes on collagen membranes and on human fibroblasts show that a continuous collagen-containing substratum is important for optimal performance of hepatocytes in primary culture. The possible importance of cultures of hepatocytes on human fibroblasts for carcinogenesis studies is discussed.