Mechanical dissociation of swine liver to produce organoid units for tissue engineering and in vitro disease modeling

Artif Organs. 2010 Jan;34(1):75-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1594.2009.00784.x.

Abstract

The complex intricate architecture of the liver is crucial to hepatic function. Standard protocols used for enzymatic digestion to isolate hepatocytes destroy tissue structure and result in significant loss of synthetic, metabolic, and detoxification processes. We describe a process using mechanical dissociation to generate hepatic organoids with preserved intrinsic tissue architecture from swine liver. Oxygen-supplemented perfusion culture better preserved organoid viability, morphology, serum protein synthesis, and urea production, compared with standard and oxygen-supplemented static culture. Hepatic organoids offer an alternative source for hepatic assist devices, engineered liver, disease modeling, and xenobiotic testing.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Liver*
  • Mechanical Phenomena
  • Organoids*
  • Swine
  • Tissue Engineering*