Primary 3-dimensional culture of mouse hepatocytes

Complex 3-dimensional structures with good functions have been obtained under the primary mixcoculture of mouse hepatocytes with mouse liver fibroblasts without serum. Albumin secretion is kept above 10 μg/10⁶ cells and urea synthesis reaches 25 μg/10⁶ on the 7th day of culture. Avoiding serum affection, liver fibroblasts’ effects on hepatocytes’ viability, functions and 3-dimensional structure forming in primary serum-free culture have been studied. Important effects of the mesenchyma, especially the direct adherence of fibroblasts to hepatocytes, are shown.