Viability, function and morphological integrity of precision-cut liver slices during prolonged incubation: Effects of culture medium

Precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) are an ex vivo model for metabolism and toxicity studies. However, data on the maintenance of the morphological integrity of the various cell types in the slices during prolonged incubation are lacking. Therefore, our aims were to characterize morphological and functional changes in rat PCLS during five days of...

Interactions between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in binary mixtures: Effects on gene expression and DNA adduct formation in precision-cut rat liver slices

Although exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) occurs mostly through mixtures, hazard and risk assessment are mostly based on the effects caused by individual compounds. The objective of the current study was to investigate whether interactions between PAHs occur, focusing on gene expression (as measured by cDNA microarrays) and...

Inhibition of zaleplon metabolism by cimetidine in the human liver: In vitro studies with subcellular fractions and precision-cut liver slices

The effect of cimetidine on the metabolism of zaleplon (ZAL) in human liver subcellular fractions and precision-cut liver slices was investigated. 2. ZAL was metabolized to a number of products including 5-oxo-ZAL (M2), which is known to be formed by aldehyde oxidase, N-desethyl-ZAL (DZAL), which is known to be formed by CYP3A forms, and N...

Cryopreservation of precision-cut rat liver slices using a computer-controlled freezer

Precision-cut liver slices are frequently used to study hepatic toxicity and metabolism of xenobiotics in vitro. Successful cryopreservation techniques will enhance an efficient and economic use of scarcely available (human) liver tissue. For primary hepatocytes, slow freezing has been accepted as the best approach towards successful...

Differential maintenance of cytochrome P450 enzymes in cultured precision-cut human liver slices

The maintenance of the major hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes has been studied in precision-cut human liver slices cultured for up to 72 h in supplemented RPMI 1640 medium. The relative apoprotein levels of 11 CYP enzymes were determined using a panel of antipeptide antibodes. In addition, 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, tolbutamide...

Intercellular communication and cell proliferation in precision-cut rat liver slices: Effect of medium composition and DDT

Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and cell proliferation were studied in control and 1,1'-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2,-trichloroethane (DDT) treated precision-cut liver slices of rat by evaluating connexin 32 (Cx32) expression and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. In addition, the effect of different culture media (RPMI...

Comparison of five incubation systems for rat liver slices using functional and viability parameters

Precision-cut liver slices are presently used for various research objects, e.g. to study metabolism, transport, and toxicity of xenobiotics. Various incubation systems are presently employed, but a systematic comparison between these incubation systems with respect to preservation of slice function has not been performed yet. Therefore, we...