Isolation of hepatocytes from newborn rats

A method is described for the preparation of isolated hepatocytes from 5 day old rats, based on the procedure of Berry and Friend (1969). In contrast to the original procedure the liver of newborn rats was perfused in the reverse direction from the vena cava caudalis (pars thoracalis) to the vena portae. The cells obtained by the above method are morphologically intact as shown by electron micrographs and by phase contrast microscopy. About 85% of the isolated cells exclused trypan blue. Neonatal liver cell preparations were used for dose response studies with phallotoxins and further experimental applications in the field of phalloidin tolerance of newborns are described.