[Comparative studies on the cultivability and morphology of rat hepatocytes isolated by trypsin or collagenase]

In the present study rat hepatocytes isolated either by trypsin or by collagenase were investigated concerning its cultivability and its morphological properties. The cultivation was carried out as monolayer for 24 h. The yields of cells prepared by trypsin or collagenase amounted to 8 x 10(7) cells per liver and 15-30 x 10(7) cells per liver, respectively, with viabilities measured by trypan blue exclusion test of 70-80 and 90-95%, respectively. Nonhepatocytes were not taken into consideration. Using the electron microscopy it could be established that both freshly isolated and 24 h cultured hepatocytes were intact. There were no morphological differences between cells isolated by trypsin and cells isolated by collagenase. After 24 h cultivation hepatocytes prepared by trypsin showed a little tendency in forming a slightly flattened appearance and in forming intercellular contacts.