Figure 2.

Dose and time effect of endothelial cell-conditioned medium on albumin secretion. A) Endothelial cell-conditioned medium induces a dose-dependent increase in hepatocyte albumin secretion on d 4 of culture. **P < 0.01 vs. control medium. B) Albumin secretion profile of hepatocytes embedded in collagen gel exposed to 75% endothelial cell-conditioned medium for either 1, 2, or 3 d and then switched to control medium for remainder of culture duration. C) Albumin secretion profile of hepatocytes embedded in collagen gel (3-D) compared to hepatocytes seeded on top of a collagen gel (2-D) during continuous stimulation with 75% endothelial-cell conditioned medium.