ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF HEPATOCYTES AND KUPFFER CELLS

Simplfied isolation procedures are described for the parenchymal cell of the liver and the major non-parenchymal cell, the Kupffer cell. Hepatocytes are obtained in a purity of ∼100%; a yield 10 × 106 cells/g liver tissue and the viability is > 85%. The recovery of Kupffer cells is 82%, viability 87% and purity 67%. Characterization of Kupffer cells is by the peroxidatic reaction, of hepatocytes by gluconeogenesis and also culture on collagen plates in a non-protein medium yielding albumin. © 1979.