Figure 2.

Culture of primary rat hepatocytes in cell fibers for up to 30 days either with or without using 3T3CM. (a–h) Representative dark-field images of primary rat hepatocytes encapsulated in cell fibers (n = 12 for each group) at the initial cell seeding density of 2.5 × 10⁷ cells mL⁻¹ before culture, after 2 days, after 4 days, and 30 days of culture in two experimental groups: (a–d) in one group 3T3CM was used after 2 days of culture, (e–h) while in the other group 3T3CM was not used. Scale bars; 100 µm. (i–m) Time course of the characteristics including hepatocyte-specific functions of primary rat hepatocytes cultured in cell fibers (n = 4 per data point) for over 30 days of culture either with or without using 3T3 CM: (i) total cell number, (j) viability, (k) albumin secretion, (l) urea synthesis, (m) CYP1A1 enzyme activity. Error bars denote mean ± SD. *P < 0.01 and **P < 0.05; Student’s t-test at each time point.