Mechanistics of Formation and Ultrastructural Evaluation of Hepatocyte Spheroids

Freshly harvested rat hepatocytes form spheroids on uncoated positively charged polystyrene surfaces. Time lapse microscopy revealed that cell movement and reorganization were involved in spheroid formation. Ultrastructural evaluation using scanning and transmission electron microscopy indicated pol...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:In vitro cellular & developmental biology. Animal 1996-04, Vol.32 (4), p.197-203
Main Authors: Peshwa, Madhusudan V., Wu, Florence J., Sharp, Harvey L., Cerra, Frank B., Hu, Wei-Shou
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Albumins
Albumins - metabolism
Animals
Biotechnology
Cell aggregates
Cells
Cellular spheroids
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System - metabolism
Epithelial cells
Hepatocytes
Islets of Langerhans
Liver - cytology
Liver - metabolism
Liver cells
Liver, Artificial
Male
Microvilli
Rats
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Spheroids
Spheroids, Cellular - metabolism
Spheroids, Cellular - ultrastructure
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Summary:Freshly harvested rat hepatocytes form spheroids on uncoated positively charged polystyrene surfaces. Time lapse microscopy revealed that cell movement and reorganization were involved in spheroid formation. Ultrastructural evaluation using scanning and transmission electron microscopy indicated polarized cellular morphology and extensive cell-cell communication within spheroids. Bile canalicular structures were observed to surround each individual hepatocyte, forming an intricate three-dimensional continuous network of channels that appeared to end as pores/holes on the surface of the spheroid. The maintenance of differentiated cellular morphology coincided with preservation of hepatocyte viability and enhanced levels of tissue specific functions in spheroids.
ISSN:1071-2690
1543-706X
DOI:10.1007/bf02722946