A simple method for the isolation of highly enriched hormone-sensitive parenchymal liver cells from fetal rats

A well reproducible method for preparing isolated parenchymal cells from fetal rat liver on the 22nd day of gestation by tryptic digestion is described including criteria for assessing their viability. The content of parenchymal liver cells was higher than 90% as could be demonstrated by light microscopic analysis of thin sections of the pelleted hepatocytes. Electron microscopic examination of the freshly prepared suspension revealed a well preserved ultrastructure of the hepatocytes. The metabolic competence of the isolated fetal hepatocytes was tested by alpha- and beta-adrenergic stimulation of glycogenolysis and glycogenolytic glucose release.