CHARACTERIZATION OF A HEPATOCYTE CELL LINE AND PRIMARY RAT HEPATOCYTES CULTURED THREE-DIMENSIONALLY IN A CELLCHIP-CONTAINING BIOREACTOR

We have developed a polymeric microstructure that is suitable for the three-dimensional cultivation of cells, the so-called CellChip-system. In a first set of experiments we have analysed the metabolic capacity of hepatocytes (Hep G2 and primary rat hepatocytes) cultured in CellChips that were mounted in a bioreactor housing. In its simplest configuration the bioreactor is equipped with a medium supply and a pump that is installed in a closed loop. The bioreactor can be superfused or perfused. In addition to gene expression profiling experiments presented last year we have evaluated some liver specific enzymatic activities.