Morphological characteristics of human fat-storing cells fractionated and cultured by newly techniques

Human non-parenchymal cells, especially fat-storing cells (FSCs), were isolated and primarily cultured using 1-2 g of normal human liver tissue obtained in conjunction with tumor biopsies. The human hepatic FSCs were cultured by a modified Howard and Pesch method. Microscopically the cultured human FSCs showed characteristic fat droplets like those in in vivo FSCs. The FSCs from tumor liver with serious fibrosis contained fewer fat droplets, and the fibrous constituents were especially abundant. The intermediate filaments extending longitudinally were characteristic of the cultured FSCs. In the human FSCs observed by the plasma polymerization replica method, the cells adhered and were stretched relatively thin. Particularly, the ends of the processes adhered and stretched like a folding fan to the bottom of the dish.