1987 Volume 16 Issue 2 Pages 920-923
Isolated hepatocytes were entrapped within Ca-alginate, and were cultured for 24hr. The entrapped cells were examined on glucose production from various substrates, lactate, alanine, fructose and galactose. By addition of these substrates, amount of produced glucose increased in dose-dependent manner. The ability of gluconeogenesis from lactate was regulated by addition of various hormones, such as glucagon, insulin, and vasopressin, to the culture media, in cultured hepatocytes. Glucagon and vasopressin stimulated gluconeogenesis, and insulin inhibited the glucagon-stimulated gluconeogenesis. Thus, hepatocytes entrapped within Ca-alginate maintained the activities of carbohydrate metabolism, and exhibited responses to hormones.
