Application of Hepatocytes Isolated from Slaughtered Pig for Bioartificial Liver Support System

In this study, porcine primary hepatocytes were cultured with or without ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (Asc2-P) to compare the functional activities with rat primary hepatocytes. Ammonium metabolic activity and albumin secretion activity of porcine hepatocytes were lower than those of rat hepatocytes in early culturing period. However, ammonium metabolic activity of porcine hepatocytes was almost recovered to the maximum level of rat hepatocytes and albumin secretion activities of porcine hepatocytes became higher than that of rat hepatocytes after seventh day culturing. The addition of Asc2-P enhanced remarkably both activities of porcine hepatocytes. For comparison, both activities of rat hepatocytes were not recovered and decreased graduate during the culturing period. Asc2-P did not give an effect on the rat hepatocytes.