Figure 1.

Organotypical model of hepatocytes and endothelial cells. A) Schematic showing hepatocytes embedded in collagen gel and endothelial cells overlaid on top of gel. B) Phase-contrast image of hepatocytes on bottom layer of construct on d 9 of culture. C) Phase-contrast image of endothelial cells on top layer of construct (d 9); note cobblestone morphology. D) Fluorescent micrograph of CM-DiI dyed endothelial cells on top of gel (d 9). Scale bar = 50 μm. E–G) Albumin (E), fibrinogen (F), and urea (G) secretion profiles of hepatocyte and endothelial cell cocultures compared to hepatocytes in single cultures. H) Cytochrome P-450IA1 (CYP1A1) activity of hepatocytes in coculture with endothelial cells compared to monoculture of hepatocytes. *P < 0.05 vs. hepatocytes in single culture.