An easy method for primary culture of chicken hepatocytes was developed to study the influence of dioxin on birds. Chicken hepatocytes could maintain gene expression and protein secretion of albumin for a long period in serum-free medium with free atmosphere exchange at 37°C. Moreover, the cells showed a sensitive response to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) by monitoring the expression of P450 1A, theta GST (θ-GST) and albumin genes.
