Hepatocytes are the most abundant type of cell in the human liver, making up an estimated 80% of the liver mass. They contain enzymes that are involved in phase I and phase II metabolism which are crucial to drug-drug interaction, metabolic stability and drug toxicity studies. The Cell Resource Core (CRC) isolates human hepatocytes from both whole livers and resected tissue. Hepatocyte isolations require extensive technical knowledge, and our many years of experience can assure the best quality primary hepatocytes on the market. These high-quality cells are ideal for metabolism, ADME-toxicity studies and many other applications. All cells are cultured at our facility as a reference to ensure the quality of the hepatocytes. Fresh human hepatocytes have a viability of >85% and are confluent in plate culture. Fresh cells can be prepared in suspension or plated to meet your requirements and can be shipped to you as soon as possible.

Kupffer cells- Kupffer cells line the walls of sinusoids in the liver and constitute a large portion of tissue macrophages present within the body. Co-culturing of cells or incorporating NPCs in in-vitro liver platforms is crucial to emulate liver physiology. Kupffer cells play an important role in phagocytosis but also provide support for other liver cells and contribute to inflammatory responses. These Kupffer cells are purified and isolated from female Lewis rats. Cells are provided in suspension or plated.

Liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (lsecs)- Liver Sinusoidal Endothelial cells (LSECs) form the walls of sinusoids and maintain liver homeostasis. They play an important role in metabolism and blood clearance, immune regulation, and the progression of chronic liver diseases. Significant changes can be seen in LSEC phenotype in injury models. LSEC dysfunction and phenotype changes can be correlated with hepatitis, liver metabolism, maintenance of hepatic structure and age-related conditions.
These liver Sinusoidal endothelial cells are purified and isolated from female Lewis rats. Cells are provided in suspension or plated.

Stellate cells- Hepatic stellate cells are pericytes found between hepatocytes and small blood vessels in the liver. Stellate cells are involved in retinoid homeostasis, pathogenesis of liver inflammation, repair, regeneration, and chronic fibrosis or cirrhosis. These cells are commonly used in chronic liver injury and disease models. These Stellate cells are purified and isolated from female Lewis rats. Cells are provided in suspension or plated.

Our top-of-the-line isolations and thoroughly optimized cryopreservation process ensures the highest quality cryopreserved hepatocytes. Cryopreserved rat hepatocytes are provided with characterization of post-thaw viability and cell yield, attachment and basic metabolic function (urea, albumin production).

Mouse hepatocytes are isolated upon request with a viability of 90 ± 5%. Standard isolations are from CD1 mice and other strains can be requested.

Knockout Mouse- Hepatocytes isolated from knockout mice offer an ideal in vitro platform for investigation of your target pathway. Hepatocyte quality of custom isolations is often impacted by the knockout model, which our technicians are skilled in troubleshooting and optimizing. Please inquire about setting up an optimization pilot with us to provide high-quality hepatocytes from your knockout animals.

Our facility comes equipped with a state-of-the-art surgical microscope. Our highly trained microsurgeon staff offers a variety of surgical options which include Organ/blood/tissue procurements, organ transplantation (inquire for more info), device implants, soft tissue surgical procedures, and vascular and non-vascular catheterization.

Our lab has developed and perfected machine organ perfusion of internal and external organs from a variety of species including rat, mouse and Non-Human primates. Furthermore, we specialize in a variety of perfusion temperature profiles including, normothermic, subnormal-thermic, and hypothermic perfusions.

Machine perfusion of human and swine organs for up to 12 hours.

Our team has also established a human split liver model that allows simultaneous perfusion of both the left and right lobes allowing one lobe to serve as a control to the other. This perfusion service includes enough materials for a perfusion that can last for up to 12 hours.

Our team of highly experienced research associates and technicians can provide personalized training in both cell culture and rodent microsurgery that is designed to address your specific areas of interest (Please note that any animal surgery protocol must be approved by the IACUC before planning training. If you require assistance in small animal (rat/mouse) surgical model development, please contact us and we will be glad to assist you).

Allow our highly trained technicians to plate fresh hepatocytes to meet your requirements and can be shipped to you as soon as possible.

We provide high quality collagen for cell culture.

Williams E-based medium optimized for use in primary hepatocyte cultures

We provide high quality DMEM for cell culture

Individual or group training by our highly qualified team is available for cell isolation, plating, cryopreservation and thawing of primary hepatocytes.

Additional charge for materials needed to Cryopreserved human hepatocytes. Cryopreserved hepatocytes offer several advantages such as vial–to–vial similarity and on-demand availability. This allows you to time your experiments at your convenience while minimizing experimental variability.

Isolated from a variety of donors, our inventory offers high-quality cells provided with a characterization of post-thaw viability and cell yield, attachment and basic metabolic function (urea, albumin production). Phase I (CYP450) drug metabolizing enzyme activities can be provided on request.

Additional charge for materials needed to cryopreserve rat hepatocytes. Cryopreserved hepatocytes offer several advantages such as vial–to–vial similarity and on-demand availability. This allows you to time your experiments at your convenience while minimizing experimental variability.