| Abstract: | In our studies of the development of a hybrid artificial liver, we investigated the formation of cylindrical multicellular
aggregate (cylindroid) of primary rat hepatocytes on a pressed sheet of polyurethane foam (pressed–PUF) as a culture substratum.
Hepatocytes formed cylindroids by attaching to a pressed–PUF surface, peeling off from the surface and aggregating. The diameter
and length of most cylindroids were approximately 200–500 μm and 500 μm–2 mm, respectively. The activities of liver specific
functions (albumin secretion and ammonia metabolism) of hepatocyte cylindroids were equivalent to or higher than those of
hepatocyte spheroids. These results suggest that hepatocyte cylindroids can maintain highly differentiated functions longer
than hepatocyte spheroids, and that a PUF/cylindroid culture may be effective to develop of a hybrid artificial liver.
This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
