Isolation of rat hepatocytes with EDTA and their metabolic functions in primary culture.

Isolated hepatocytes from adult rat liver were prepared after dissociation of the liver with EDTA. The morphological appearance, viability (94.5%) and yield (1.76.10(7) cells/g liver) compare well with those of previously described methods using collagenase. Differentiated functions of the hepatocytes in primary culture such as albumin secretion (10.9 micrograms/mg cell protein/d) and triglyceride synthesis and secretion are maintained. Induction of triglyceride synthesis and secretion by oleic acid takes place to an extent similar to that observed in vivo and liver perfusion. Particles with a lipid composition resembling circulating very low density lipoproteins are secreted into the medium. These characteristics demonstrate the ability of hepatocytes isolated with EDTA and subsequently used in primary culture to retain complex and highly differentiated functions of the intact liver.