[Transfection and expression of the S gene of hepatitis B virus in hepatocytes of adult rats in primary culture].

The feasibility of gene transfer in differentiated mammalian cells in primary culture, has been worked out in isolated adult rat hepatocytes. The calcium phosphate technique has been applied to the hepatocytes after 3 to 5 days of culture. The DNA of a plasmid carrying the gene S of HBV has been used in the transfection experiments. The transcription of the gene S in the transfected hepatocytes, characterized by the synthesis of the gene product (the surface antigen HBs Ag) has been demonstrated by radioimmunoassay and cytologic visualization by immunofluorescence.