1991 Volume 17 Issue 3 Pages 667-670
Adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture inoculated on polylysine-coated surfaces were found to form spheroidal aggregates, which have recently been reported to express higher hepatic functions than those in monolayer cultures.
To establish the culture condition for industrial utilization, the effects of serum, epidermal growth factor (EGF) and aprotinin on the formation and maintenance of spheroids were examined. Serum was effective in the maintenance of spheroids, but delayed their formation. EGF improved their formation greatly. Aprotinin inhibited spheroid formation but improved their maintenance after formation was completed.
