• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.96-102
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• 1998

Primary hepatocytes of small animals such as rat and rabbit were often used for the study of extracorporeal liver support systems. Freshly isolated rat hepatocytes form spheroids within tow days when cultivated as suspension in spinner vessels. These spheroids showed enhanced liver specific functions and more differentiated morphology compared to hepatocytes cultured as monolayers However, shear stress caused by continuous agitation deteriorated spheroids gradually. In this work we immobilized spheroids to prolong liver specific activities. First, hepatocyte spheroids were suspended in collagen solution containing calcium chloride and then dropped into alginate solution. A thin layer of calcium alginate was formed around the droplet and then was removed after the inner collagen was gelled by treatment of sodium citrate buffer. Spheroids embedded in collagen-gel bead maintained liver specific functions such as albumin secretion rate longer than hepatocyte spheroids exposed to shear stress. Therefore, we suggest that this immobilization technique may offer an effective long-term hepatocyte cultivation and facilitase the development of a bioartificial liver support device.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.107-112
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• 2012

Early growth, the rate of yolk sac absorption, and nucleus size in liver parenchymal cells were correlated with the nutritional status of first feeding larval haddock, Melanogrammus aeglefinus. Larvae that successfully began exogenous feeding maintained high growth rates, delayed yolk sac resorption, and had larger hepatocyte nuclear sizes than starved larvae. At 10 days post hatch (DPH) the cumulative mortality in the starved larval haddock group was 100%. The area of the hepatocyte nuclei in starved larvae gradually decreased, reaching its lowest value by 9 DPH. Our results support the current practice of providing the first food supply at 3 DPH. Hepatocyte nuclear size can be used to assess larval haddock nutrition status, and may be a good criterion for assessing the success of transition from endogenous to exogenous feeding.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.301-306
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• 2006

Microcystin-LR(MC-LR), a cyanobacterial toxin produced by Microcystis aeruginosa, causes severe hepatotoxicity. Here we investigated the morphologic changes of rat hepatocyte spheroid induced by exposure of MC-LR($10^{-6}M$) in vitro. In addition, to determine the effects of such toxin in the process of hepatocyte spheroid formation, primarily isolated hepatocytes were incubated with MC-LR and the process of spheroid formation was observed. In both hepatocyte spheroid and suspension culture systems, the morphologic changes caused by MC-LR were noticible at 5 min post exposure and were characterized by the loss of microvilli, cytoplasmic vacuolation, the accumulation of lipid droplets, and blob formation. Especially, the size and numbers of blob on the cell surface were increased as the incubation time prolonged and the appearance of electron dense bodies were observed in the cytoplasm of hepatocyte at 20 min post exposure. Furthermore, bile canaliculi-like structures in the hepatocyte spheroids were slightly widened and the process of spheroids formation was inhibited in the isolated hepatocytes incubated with MC-LR. These results indicate that morphologic changes in. the hepatocyte membrane and organelles seem to be typical events in showing the MC-LR induced hepatotoxic effects and the spheroid culture method might be a useful experimental tool to evaluate hepatoxicity since it reflects the in vivo status of hepatocytes.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.205-217
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• 1988

An ultrastructural study of hepatocyte proliferation in the regenerating rat liver has been made by means of the partial hepatectomy. And electron microscopic histochemistry of hepatocyte in the regenerating rat liver is studied through alkaline phosphatase reaction. The results are as follows: 1. When the regeneration of rat liver is induced by the partial hepatectomy, the prominent ultrastructural characteristics of hepatocyte are changes of the distribution of chromatin in nucleus, increase of the number of mitochondria and decrease of the size of them, development of rough endoplasmic reticulum, and transient decrease of glycogen granules in cytoplasm. 2. Alkaline phosphatase reaction products are appeared in the nucleus or rough endoplasmic reticulum of hepatocyte during the initial regeneration of liver as 24, 48 and 72 hour groups after partial hepatectomy. And these positive reaction are mainly increased in cytoplasm and plasma membrane of hepatocytes during 1, 2 and 3 week groups after partial hepatectomy. As 4 weeks passed after partial hepatectomy, these positive reaction is located in the sinusoidal epithelial cells or erythrocytes. With above results, we concluded that alkaline phosphatase was synthesized in the rough endoplasmic reticulum bounded ribosomes of regenerating hepatocyte, was transported to the plasma membrane of them, and then was transported in blood by the way sinusoidel epithelial cells.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.207-219
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• 1996

This study was designed to investigate the ultrastructural alterations of the hepatocyte and bile canaliculus of the fasted mice with transmission and scanning electron microscopes. The morphometry was also carried out for the caliber of the bile canaliculus and the number, length and thickness of the microvillus. The hepatocyte observed in the three day fasting group showed ultrastructural images of active function. The dilated bile canaliculi, especially of type II were increased in number as compared with those seen in the normal group. However, the hepatocyte observed in the six day fasting group showed ultrastructural images of inactive function. The bile canaliculi without dilation (type I) were increased in number. The number of microvilli were identical with one another among the different types of bile canaliculi, while their length and thickness were reduced in the dilated bile canaliculi. From the evidence, the luminal size of the bile canaliculi seems to be easily changeable according to the functional state of the hepatocyte. However, the microvilli may not be changed in number but may be changed length and thickness when the bile canaliculi are dilated.

• BMB Reports
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.269-273
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• 1997

Heptocvte-specific expression induced by Hepatitis B virus (HBV) enhancer 2-core gene promoter was examined in various hepatocyte and non-hepatocyte cell lines. using non-viral and retroviral vector systems in which chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) is used as a reporter. The non-viral plasmid containing the HBV enhancer 2-core promoter exhibited 22 and 66% of CAT activities in hepatoma cell lines. HepG2 and Hep3B, respectively when compared with CAT activity expressed by CMV promoter. The CAT activities, however. were found to be marginal in other tested hepatoma cell lines as well as mouse primary hepatocytes and non-hepatocytes. The HBV enhancer 2 located upstream the CMV promoter did not affect the CMV promoter activity nor provided hepatocyte-specific expression. Transfection of retroviral plasmid DNA containing the HBV enhancer 2-core promoter as an internal promoter exhibited high and specific CAT expression in HepG2 and Hep3B cell lines but the activity value was 5 to 10 fold lower than the non-viral plasmid with identical promoter. These results suggest that the usage of HBV enhancer 2-core promoter for liver specific expression is limited to certain vectors and hepatocyte cell lines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 2005

Chitosan-alginate capsules were formed by electrostatic interactions and exhibited an appropriate mechanical strength, permeability, and stability for the culture of hepatocytes. Pig hepatocytes were isolated and hepatocyte spheroids formed and immobilized in chitosan-alginate capsules. An encapsulation procedure of 3 min and spheroid formation period of 24 h were the optimum conditions for the best liver functions. Pig hepatocytes with a cell density of $6.0{\tomes}10^6$ cells/ml in the capsules were found to be most suitable for application in a bioartificial liver support system. The encapsulated pig hepatocyte spheroids exhibited stable ammonia removal and urea secretion rates in a bioreactor for 2 weeks. Accordingly, chitosan-alginate encapsulated hepatocyte spheroids in a packed-bed bioreactor would appear to have potential as a bioartificial liver.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.11
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• pp.1317-1324
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• 2002

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.183-194
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• 2008

A variety of stem cells has been emerging as therapeutic cells that can replace organ transplantation in human liver diseases. The present study focused on whether human eyelid adipose-derived stem cells (HAD) might differentiate into functional hepatocyte-like cells in vitro. HAD were isolated from human eyelid adipose tissue. Effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 and FGF-4 on the hepatic differentiation of HAD have been examined in vitro. Immunocytochemical analysis and PAS staining showed that HAD cultured in both DMSO and FGF-4 exhibited the most intense staining than HAD of the other experimental groups. These HAD expressed numerous hepatocyte-related genes. Immunoblotting analyses showed that HAD cultured in the presence of DMSO and FGF-4 secreted higher amount of human albumin than HAD cultured in other conditions. Urea analysis also demonstrated that these HAD produced higher amount of urea than any other groups of HAD. In conclusion, combined treatment of DMSO and FGF-4 could effectively induce the functional differentiation of HAD into hepatocyte-like cells.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.633-641
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• 2020

Water temperature is one of the most important factors of fish survival, affecting the habitat, migration route, development, and reproduction. This experiment studied the induction level of heat shock protein (HSP70) mRNA and protein in a walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) primary hepatocyte culture based on different temperatures. Hepatocytes were attached at 7.5℃ for 24 hours. Hsp70 induction levels were then measured for 48 hours at 5, 8, 11, 14, and 17℃. The induction level was lowest at 5℃ and generally increased with temperature until 14℃. The induction level was reduced at 17℃, indicating that 14℃ is the highest tolerable temperature for hepatocytes. These data indicate that primary hepatocyte cell culture is under no stress at 5 and 8℃. Temperatures greater than 11℃ induce stress, showing similar induction patterns in both mRNA and protein in hepatocytes. The results suggest that 14℃ is the maximum internal defense temperature of walleye pollock survival.