Fig. 1.

Culture and growth of primary tupaia hepatocytes (PTHs) and effects of HCV infection. Using an MTT assay, the viability of PTHs was determined over a period of more than 30 days, with obvious cell proliferation for 3–9 days in culture (a). The activity and purity of the obtained cells and the cell growth were observed under a microscope (b). HCV infection at an m.o.i. of 2.0 and 2.5 significantly reduced cell viability, while at an m.o.i. of 1.0 and 1.5 there was little effect on the viability of PTH cells (c).