[A serum-free medium that preserves the normal morphology and high protein-synthesis level in hepatocytes in vitro]

In a culture of rat hepatocytes, kept in a serum-free medium 199, the number of attached cells was decreased and a monolayer was not formed within 24 h. Soon after the cells were attached to collagen, the intensity of protein synthesis in the serum-free medium was decreased due to the smaller number of cells in the culture and was calculated per cell. The properties of cultures, i.e., the number and shape of cells, external appearance of the culture, and intensity of protein synthesis, were similar in a serum-containing medium and in the serum-free medium 199 complemented with 0.2 mg/ml albumin and 5 micrograms/ml insulin. A monolayer typical for the medium with serum was formed in the medium with albumin and insulin within approximately 20 h after attachment of the hepatocytes to the substrate.