Self-renewal capability of hepatocytic parental progenitor cells derived from an adult rat liver is maintained for a long term in the chemically defined medium cultured on lamini111

We analyzed gene expression of hepatocytic parental progenitor cells cultured on laminin (LN) 111, LN511 and Matrigel (Mat) in a population of small hepatocytes. Primary rat small hepatocytes were isolated from fresh livers by using collagenase perfusion method and cultured in serum-free medium. Nine days after plating, colonies were treated with a separation solution and CD44+ cells were isolated by using MACS methods.The sorted CD44+ cells were cultured in Matrigel(Mat)-coated dishes. Second passage cells were cultured on laminin (LN)111, LN511 and Mat for 3 hours. As a control, mature heptocytes (MH) were isolated from fresh livers.