Isolation and primary culture of adult human hepatocytes. Ultrastructural and functional studies.

Biopsy tissue of adult human liver was gently dissociated with collagenase followed by Dispase. By repeated low g centrifugation, a large number of almost pure, viable hepatocytes was obtained. This is the first report of a successful procedure for obtaining adult human hepatocytes for study in tissue culture. The isolated cells have the typical morphology of liver parenchyma, and these characteristics persist throughout the period of culturing. Evidence of their function is indicated by albumin synthesis. This procedure is now being used to study human hepatocyte functions in vitro and the effects of a variety of agents including carcinogens and viruses.