[Research on development of hybrid artificial liver utilizing reconstituted extracellular matrix]

We investigated culture of adult rat hepatocytes on reconstituted extracellular matrix, glycosaminoglycans containing collagen gel and on a porous gelatin sponge (gelform) for the maintenance of the liver-specific functions of hepatocytes. In the culture on reconstituted extracellular matrix, only heparin containing collagen cultures could significantly sustain albumin synthesis for over 3 weeks. On the other hand, in the culture of rat hepatocytes on a porous gelatin sponge, the morphology of the hepatocytes immobilized on the support was close to that in vivo and the secretion of albumin and bile acids was stable for over 12 days. These results demonstrate that culture on two- and three-dimensional culture with reconstituted extracellular matrix is one of the promising hepatocytes cultures for development of artificial liver.