Abstract

Extracellular matrices of various organs were prepared and utilized for the culture substrate of the hepatocytes in the primary culture, with an aim of establishing biological artificial-liver support. Isolated rat hepatocytes attached the extracellular matrix of the liver “liver biomatrix” more rapidly than those of spleen and lung. Cells attached liver biomatrix started spreading immediately after attachment under cooperation with some serum factors, but cells with no contact to the matrix did not during the first 30 minutes of cell seeding. Cell attachment and spreading did not show any differences in between intra- and interlobular matrices of the liver also in blockade of fibronectin and laminin with the respective antibodies. These results indicated that the extracellular matrix of the liver had an organ specific ability of hepatocyte attachment and spreading.