Isolation and characterization of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells

Simplified isolation procedures are described for the parenchymal cell of the liver and the major non-parenchymal cell, the Kupffer cell. Hepatocytes are obtained in a purity of approximately 100%; a yield 10 X 10(6) cells/g liver tissue and the viability is greater than 85%. The recovery of Kupffer cells is 82%, viability 87% and purity 67%. Characterization of Kupffer cells is by the peroxidatic reaction, of hepatocytes by gluconeogenesis and also culture on collagen plates in a non-protein medium yielding albumin.