Abstract
To develop a new hybrid artificial liver, three different kinds of basic culture medium Hanks' solution, MEM, Williams'E and the addition of h-EGF, fibronectin, DBcAMP, proline, glutamine were investigated of their availability for the improvement of metabolic functions of hepatocytes entrapped with Ca-alginate used as a reactor in this liver support system. The mixture of rat hepatocyte suspension obtained by collagenase digestive method and 2% Na-alginate was dropped into 0.1 M CaCl2 to make gel beads. Elimination rate of challenged NH3, gluconeo-genesis, albumin synthesis and TAT activity were also examined in monolayer culture system, but no singnificant availability of the additives was obtained in spite of slight improvement in the morphological observation. It may be concluded that metabolic functions of Caalginate entrapped hepatoc tes depend on the quality of basic culture medium much more than the additives investigatedin this study.
