An attempt to eliminate fibroblast-like cells from primary cultures of fetal human livers.

The elimination of fibroblast-like cells from primary cultures of fetal human livers was studied. A fibroblast-like cell line (HuF), which was obtained by subculturing fetal human liver cells 4 or more times, was briefly treated with hydrocortisone (HC) or putrescine (PUT). The growth of HuF cells was inhibited by HC at a concentration of 10(-2) M and by PUT at a concentration higher than 10(-3) M. Long-term treatment of HuF cells with 10(-3) M HC inhibited the growth of the cells. Primary cultures of fetal human livers were made in medium containing HC or PUT, and morphological and functional examinations were made. The cultures were predominantly composed of epithelial-like cells, with few fibroblast-like cells, when the HC concentration was 10(-5)M to 10(-3) M. A high amount of albumin was secreted at these concentrations of HC. On the other hand, at 10(-3) M PUT, many epithelial-like cells were seen, but albumin was undetectable. The present results indicate that albumin-producing epithelial-like cells can be selectively maintained in medium containing HC, in primary cultures of fetal human livers.