Analysis of cell viability and differential activity of mouse hepatocytes under 3D and 2D culture in agarose gel

Three-dimensional (3D) and two-dimensional (2D) cultures of hepatocytes in various concentrations (0.3–0.7%) of agarose gel revealed that the hepatocytes under 3D cultures in 0.3% agarose gel possess long-term (>3 weeks) viability, significant self-assembly to form tissue like aggregates, low lactate dehydrogenase release and high albumin synthesis. These were in contrast to 2D culture of hepatocytes. Our results suggest that the 3D culture of hepatocytes in agarose gel favors aggregate formation of functionally active cells and would be useful for liver transplantation as well as to analyze hepatocytes biology.