Cell morphology, albumin secretion and glutathione S-Transferase expression in collagen gel sandwich and immobilization cultures of rat hepatocytes.

In order to investigate whether collagen gel sandwich and immobilization cultures of rat hepatocytes are suitable in vitro models for long-term pharmaco-toxicological studies, the expression of the key phase II biotransformation enzyme, glutathione S-transferase (GST, EC 2.5.1.18), has been studied in the presence or absence of l-proline (60mug/ml) in the culture medium. Additionally, hepatocytes morphology was followed and albumin secretion into the medium measured. As judged by inverse phase light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, cells cultured in both organotypical models remained viable and well differentiated for at least 14 days. Albumin secretion increased 2.5-fold after 7 days of culture, in comparison with the values found after 2 days, and remained thereafter relatively constant. When l-proline was added to the medium of sandwich and immobilization gel cultures, steady-state secretion levels of 7.1 and 5.1 mug albumin/hr, respectively, were already obtained after 4 days of culture. Total, Mu, Alpha and Pi class GST activities were determined using a general substrate and isoenzyme specific substrates, respectively. After 7 days of culture, total GST activities were decreased as compared with the values obtained for freshly isolated cells. On the contrary, Mu class GST activities were kept at a constant level. Alpha class GSTs were maintained at a 50% activity level and GST 7-7 activity was shown to be slightly induced. l-proline prevented an initial decline in total and Mu class GST activities in both culture models. The GST subunit pattern, measured after affinity chromatography by reversed phase HPLC, reflected the GST activity results.