The reaggregation of adult rat liver cells maintained in vitro

Ultrastructural and functional differentiation of hepatocytes under long‐term culture conditions

“…The loss of specific hepatic functions in the conventional single gel culture cannot be characterized only by a reduction in transcription of liver specific genes (Bissel et al, 1987;Ben-Ze'ev et al, 19881, but also by a progressive and strong rarefication of the cell organelles as seen here. Other authors also reported rapid involution of cellular ultrastructure in single gel over a shorter time scale (2-5 days) than ours Chapman et al, 1973;Alwen and Lawn, 1974;Bernaert et al, 1977;Wanson et al, 1977;Gebhardt and Jung, 1982;Jung et al, 1982;Robenek et al, 1982). Compared to this, the hepatocyte organelles in the double gel culture are at least preserved up to 14 days, allowing intact albumin production and secretion.…”

“…Other authors also reported rapid involution of cellular ultrastructure in single gel over a shorter time scale (2-5 days) than ours Chapman et al, 1973;Alwen and Lawn, 1974;Bernaert et al, 1977;Wanson et al, 1977;Gebhardt and Jung, 1982;Jung et al, 1982;Robenek et al, 1982). Compared to this, the hepatocyte organelles in the double gel culture are at least preserved up to 14 days, allowing intact albumin production and secretion.…”

The induction of tumour cell adhesiveness and intercellular junctions by a glycoprotein of rat ascites hepatoma cell surface

“…Since the dissociated cells were able to re-aggregate without addition of any cell-aggregating substance, it was considered that these cells themselves may synthesize some cell-30 aggregating substance in culture (Hausman and Moscona, 1973). Recently, it has been shown in culture that dissociated liver cells from normal adult rats can reaggregate and re-establish many of the intercellular junctions typical of adult liver in vivo (Alwen and Lawn, 1974). On the basis of morphological observations that the alignment of cysternae of endoplasmic reticulum beneath planar surfaces of contact between hepatocytes occurred in the early stages, they postulated that materials associated with cell adhesion were secreted during the process.…”

Adult rat hepatocytes in primary monolayer culture. Ultrastructural characteristics of intercellular contacts and cell membrane differentiations.

“…Spaces resembling bile canaliculi, frequently dilated, have been observed in monolayers of adult rat hepatocytes by many authors (1,2,21,28). Different criteria have been chosen in order to define and recognize typical newly formed bile ducts, namely: the presence of microvilli, limiting the lumen; the development of mature tight junctions, visualized by the freeze-etching method and by the use of permeability tracers such as horseradish peroxidase; the existence of a granular zone, devoid of cell organelles, surrounding the lumen.…”