• Toxicological Research
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.301-306
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• 2006

Microcystin-LR(MC-LR), a cyanobacterial toxin produced by Microcystis aeruginosa, causes severe hepatotoxicity. Here we investigated the morphologic changes of rat hepatocyte spheroid induced by exposure of MC-LR($10^{-6}M$) in vitro. In addition, to determine the effects of such toxin in the process of hepatocyte spheroid formation, primarily isolated hepatocytes were incubated with MC-LR and the process of spheroid formation was observed. In both hepatocyte spheroid and suspension culture systems, the morphologic changes caused by MC-LR were noticible at 5 min post exposure and were characterized by the loss of microvilli, cytoplasmic vacuolation, the accumulation of lipid droplets, and blob formation. Especially, the size and numbers of blob on the cell surface were increased as the incubation time prolonged and the appearance of electron dense bodies were observed in the cytoplasm of hepatocyte at 20 min post exposure. Furthermore, bile canaliculi-like structures in the hepatocyte spheroids were slightly widened and the process of spheroids formation was inhibited in the isolated hepatocytes incubated with MC-LR. These results indicate that morphologic changes in. the hepatocyte membrane and organelles seem to be typical events in showing the MC-LR induced hepatotoxic effects and the spheroid culture method might be a useful experimental tool to evaluate hepatoxicity since it reflects the in vivo status of hepatocytes.

• 한국환경과학회지
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• 제29권6호
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• pp.633-641
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• 2020

Water temperature is one of the most important factors of fish survival, affecting the habitat, migration route, development, and reproduction. This experiment studied the induction level of heat shock protein (HSP70) mRNA and protein in a walleye pollock (Gadus chalcogrammus) primary hepatocyte culture based on different temperatures. Hepatocytes were attached at 7.5℃ for 24 hours. Hsp70 induction levels were then measured for 48 hours at 5, 8, 11, 14, and 17℃. The induction level was lowest at 5℃ and generally increased with temperature until 14℃. The induction level was reduced at 17℃, indicating that 14℃ is the highest tolerable temperature for hepatocytes. These data indicate that primary hepatocyte cell culture is under no stress at 5 and 8℃. Temperatures greater than 11℃ induce stress, showing similar induction patterns in both mRNA and protein in hepatocytes. The results suggest that 14℃ is the maximum internal defense temperature of walleye pollock survival.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제4권4호
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• pp.186-191
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• 2001

Vitellogenin (VTG) and VTG mRNA induction by $estradiol-17\beta\;(E_2)$ were examined in the primary cultures of hepatocyte in the rainbow trout. Hepatocytes were precultured for 2 days, then $E_2$ was added and cultured for another 5 days. Media and hepatocytes were then analyzed by electrophoresis and Northern blotting for VTG and VTG mRNA, respectively. The hepatocytes were formed a few aggregates within 5 days without further spreading to a monolayer. Cell viability and high DNA content were maintained during the incubation. The hepatocyte culture with E2 induced a weak VTG band at a molecular weight of 175kDa on Day 2 after $E_2$ addition. The relative amount of VTG was expressed in percentage of total protein concentrations. VTG was gradually increased as $1.9\%$ on Day 2, $6.3\%$ on Day 4 and $7.3\%$ on Day 5. VTG mRNA band was detected at about 6.6 kb in the culture with $E_2$ at day 1 of culture. The level of VTG mRNA expression linearly increased with time until Day 5 (r=0.97).

• 대한의생명과학회지
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 2016

Several studies have investigated the various effects of dexamethasone (Dex) on the proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Previously, we reported that co-treatment with L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate and fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 maintained differentiation potential in MSCs through expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF). In this study, we investigated the effects of co-treatment with FGF-2 and Dex on the proliferation and differentiation potential of MSCs during a 2-month culture period. Co-treatment with FGF-2 and Dex increased approximately a 4.7-fold higher accumulation rate of MSC numbers than that by FGF-2 single treatment during a 2-month culture period. Interestingly, co-treatment with FGF-2 and Dex increased expression of HGF and maintained adipogenic differentiation potential during this culture period. These results suggest that co-treatment with FGF-2 and Dex preserves the proliferation and differentiation potential during long-term culture.

• 한국응용약물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국응용약물학회 1994년도 춘계학술대회 and 제3회 신약개발 연구발표회
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• pp.137-144
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• 1994

Spherical multicellular aggregates of adult rat hepatocytes (spheroid) which have tissue like structure, were formed and immobilized in the pores of polyurethane foam (PUF) which was used as a culture substratum. These hepatocyte/spheroids, about 100 $\mu\textrm{m}$ in diameter, have maintained higher differentiated functions than those of hepatocyte/monolayer for about 3 weeks in serum-free medium. Then, we designed a prototype module of an artificial liver support system using a PUF/spheroid packed-bed, in which hepatocyte/spheroids were immobilized at high density. The urea synthesis activity of the artificial liver was maintained at least 10 days in 100% rat blood plasma. We start examining the performance of hybrid artificial liver in an ex vivo extracorporeal experiment with an acute hepatic failure rat.

• 대한의용생체공학회:의공학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.215-224
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• 1998

본 논문은 급성 간 부전 환자나 간이식 대기상태에 있는 환자에 이용하기 위한 체외 간 보조장치를 개발하기 위한 기초 실험에 관한 것이다. 밀도 33kg/m, 평균 직경 500um, 60-70%의 window를 가진 폴리우레탄 폼을 15% NCO-프리폴리머로 제조하였다. 폴리우레탄 폼에 접종된 간세포는 3일 후에 거의 모두 100-150um 크기의 구상체를 형성하였다. BSA 코팅을 한 폴리우레탄 폼은 BSA로 코팅하지 않은 폴리우레탄 폼보다 간세포 구상체 형성 시간이 더 짧았다. 폴리우레탄 폼에 형성된 간세포 구상체의 간 기능을 증명하기 위하여 암모니아 제거율과 요소 및 알부민 분비율을 측정하였다. 폴리우레탄 폼은 간세포 구상체 배양에 적합하며, 폴리우레탄 폼 내에서의 간세포 구상체 배양은 체외 간 보조장치로의 개발 가능성이 높다.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제31권3호
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• pp.169-177
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• 2016

There is a growing interest in the application of primary hepatocytes for treatment of liver diseases in humans and for drug development. Several studies have focused on long-term survival and di-differentiation blocking of primary hepatocytes in an in vitro culture system. Therefore, the present study also aimed to optimize an in vitro culture system using primary rat hepatocytes. Primary rat hepatocytes from 6-week-old male Crl:CD rats were isolated using a modified two-step collagenase perfusion. Healthy $3.5{\times}10^6$ primary rat hepatocytes were seeded into a 2 dimensional (2D) culture in a 25T culture flask coated with collagen type I or into a 3D culture in a 125-ml spinner flask for 7 days. Production of plasma protein (ALB and TF), apoptosis (BAX and BCL2), and CYP (CYP3A1) related genes were compared between the 2D and 3D culture systems. The 3D culture system had an advantage over the 2D system because of the relatively high expression of ALB and low expression of BAX in the 3D system. However, the level of CYP3A1 did not improve in the 3D culture with and without the presence of a dexamethasone inducer. Therefore, 3D culture has an advantage for albumin production and primary rat hepatocyte survivability, but a low expression of CYP3A1 indicated that primary rat hepatocytes require a high-density culture for stress reduction by continuous flow.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제1권1호
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• pp.24-29
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• 1998

Effect of extracellular calcium in vitellogenin (VTG) production in response to estradiol-17 $\beta$ $(E_2,\;2\times10^{-6}M)$ was examined in primary hepatocyte culture of rainbow trout, Onchorhynchus mykiss. Total calcium in estrogenized sera significantly increased, compared with the control, while diffusible calcium was insignificant. However, diffusible calcium in the incubation medium with $E_2$ was significantly reduced, compared with the control. The uptake of extracellular calcium by cultured hepatocytes signifIcantly increased 90 min after $E_2$ addition. Moreover, the accumulation of intracellular calcium increased in the cultures with $E_2$, regardless of the calcium concentrations in the incubation media. In addition, $E_2-primed $ VTG production was significantly decreased by withdrawal of E_2$ from the incubation medium. Moreover, VTG production by $E_2-primed$ hepatocytes was reduced by removing calcium from the incubation medium with or without $E_2$. These results suggest that the entry of extracellular calcium into the cytoplasm is an important step for VTG production in primary hepatocyte cultures in rainbow trout.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.7-13
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• 2005

Chitosan-alginate capsules were formed by electrostatic interactions and exhibited an appropriate mechanical strength, permeability, and stability for the culture of hepatocytes. Pig hepatocytes were isolated and hepatocyte spheroids formed and immobilized in chitosan-alginate capsules. An encapsulation procedure of 3 min and spheroid formation period of 24 h were the optimum conditions for the best liver functions. Pig hepatocytes with a cell density of $6.0{\tomes}10^6$ cells/ml in the capsules were found to be most suitable for application in a bioartificial liver support system. The encapsulated pig hepatocyte spheroids exhibited stable ammonia removal and urea secretion rates in a bioreactor for 2 weeks. Accordingly, chitosan-alginate encapsulated hepatocyte spheroids in a packed-bed bioreactor would appear to have potential as a bioartificial liver.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제3권1호
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• pp.1-8
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• 1987

In vitro induction of cytochrome 450 associated monooxygenase activities by phenobarbital (PB) and 3-methylcholanthrene (MC) was investigated in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes. PB and MC were added to the culture 24 hr after the initial plating of hepatocytes. A signiftcant increase of the activities of 7-ethoxycoumarin 0-deethylase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase were observed in MC and PB treated culture. MC caused about 500% induction of the initial oxidation rates of both enzymes in 48 hr. However the PB maintained both enzyme activities close to the level of freshly isolated hepatocytes. Biphenyl 4-hydroxylase and aminopyrine N-demethylase activities were also induced by MC and PB. But the level of induction was less than that occuring with 7-ethoxycoumarin 0-deethylase and aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase. When aflatoxin $B_1$ was added to the hepatocyte cultures which have been treated with MC or PB, it caused a significant increase of the unscheduled DNA synthesis at higher dose of aflatoxin $B_1$ as compared to those of untreated control hepatocyte cultures. The results suggest that microsomal enzyme activities can be selectively controlled preferably in hepatocyte cultures by the in vitro induction method. This principle may be useful for studying the metabolism and other toxicological studies.