Name: isolation of primary rat hepatocytes with multiparameter perfusion control
Uploaded: 2021-04-05T13:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Primary Rat Hepatocytes with Multiparameter Perfusion Control at JoVE.com

This work is supported in part by MOE ARC (MOE2017-T2-1-149); NUHS Innovation Seed Grant 2017 (NUHSRO/2017/051/InnovSeed/02); Mechanobiology Institute of Singapore (R-714-106-004-135); and Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, Biomedical Research Council, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) (Project Numbers IAF-PP H18/01/a0/014, IAF-PP H18/01/a0/K14 and MedCaP-LOA-18-02) funding to Hanry Yu. Ng Chan Way is a research scholar of the National University of Singapore. We would like to thank Confocal Microscopy Unit &#38; Flow Cytometry Unit of the National University of Singapore for help and advice in hepatocyte purity analysis.

All procedures and animal housing were carried out under protocol numbers R15-0027 and R19-0669 in accordance with the requirements of the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) of the National University of Singapore.
1. Preparation of solutions and surgical instruments
<ol>
	<li>Prepare buffers and cell culture media in Table 1 using ultrapure water.</li>
	<li>Pre-warm the calcium-free buffer and collagenase buffer to 37 &#176;C in a water bath before use.</li...

<ol>
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H., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Constrained+spheroids+for+prolonged+hepatocyte+culture.">Constrained spheroids for prolonged hepatocyte culture.</a> Biomaterials. 80, 106-120 (2016).</li><li>Xia, L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Laminar-flow+immediate-overlay+hepatocyte+sandwich+perfusion+system+for+drug+hepatotoxicity+testing.">Laminar-flow immediate-overlay hepatocyte sandwich perfusion system for drug hepatotoxicity testing.</a> Biomaterials. 30 (30), 5927-5936 (2009).</li><li>Gupta, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Bile+canaliculi+contract+autonomously+by+releasing+calcium+into+hepatocytes+via+mechanosensitive+calcium+channel.">Bile canaliculi contract autonomously by releasing calcium into hepatocytes via mechanosensitive calcium channel.</a> Biomaterials. 259, 120283 (2020).</li><li>Horner, R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Impact+of+Percoll+purification+on+isolation+of+primary+human+hepatocytes.">Impact of Percoll purification on isolation of primary human hepatocytes.</a> Scientific Reports. 9 (1), 6542 (2019).</li><li>Osypiw, J. C., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Subpopulations+of+rat+hepatocytes+separated+by+Percoll+density-gradient+centrifugation+show+characteristics+consistent+with+different+acinar+locations.">Subpopulations of rat hepatocytes separated by Percoll density-gradient centrifugation show characteristics consistent with different acinar locations.</a> The Biochemical Journal. 304, 617-624 (1994).</li><li>Beal, E. W., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+small+animal+model+of+ex+vivo+normothermic+liver+perfusion.">A small animal model of ex vivo normothermic liver perfusion.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments: JoVE. (136), e57541 (2018).</li><li>Hillebrandt, K., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Procedure+for+decellularization+of+rat+livers+in+an+oscillating-pressure+perfusion+device.">Procedure for decellularization of rat livers in an oscillating-pressure perfusion device.</a> Journal of Visualized Experiments: JoVE. (102), e53029 (2015).</li></ol>

There are a few points that are particularly important to observe for two-step collagenase perfusion procedure in general. Firstly, special care must be given when resecting the liver. Ensure that the gastrointestinal tract is not damaged as leakage of the contents will result in bacterial contamination. In addition, avoid damaging the Glisson&#39;s capsule, which covers the surface of the liver during the animal procedure. If the tear is large enough, it might allow premature release of disassociated hepatocytes into th...

Primary hepatocytes are important tools for liver-related basic research, disease treatment, and application such as drug testing. The current gold standard for primary hepatocyte isolation is the two-step collagenase perfusion procedure1,2,3 introduced by Seglen in the 1970s4. However, this procedure is technically challenging and has a high failure rate when performed by novice surgeons. Even when a perfusion is considered successful, drastic differences in hepatocyte viability (typically 60%-95%) and yield (0.5-5 x 108 per 200-300 g rat) may be observed between isolations. This influences the quality and scale of downstream experiments. Apart from the technical procedure, the perfusion setup used for the isolation, either commercially available or custom built, is a contributing factor. Attention must be given to the assembly, optimization, and maintenance of the perfusion setup. The purpose of this protocol is to improve the success rate and stability between isolations of primary rat hepatocytes through multiparameter perfusion control of the technical procedure and perfusion setup of the two-step collagenase perfusion procedure.
From the technical aspect, the most difficult step in the procedure is the portal vein cannulation. As for the other steps, if good practice is observed and general precautions are taken, the stability of the isolation can be improved. Therefore, understanding of the reasoning for each step is important so that the surgeon could respond to various variables that may occur during the procedure.
Various protocols for the isolation of hepatocytes and liver non-parenchymal cells from rat and mouse have been published1,2,5,6,7,8,9. The perfusion setups used in these protocols had several disadvantages, which include the reuse of perfusion tubing, problems with temperature control, need for routine optimization of perfusion parameters, and/or usage of unsuitable type of intravenous (IV) catheter for portal vein cannulation. The reuse of perfusion tubing will increase the chances of contamination, especially if the tubing was not cleaned and disinfected properly. Reuse of tubing without routine replacement will also expose the perfusion setup to problems such as leaky tubing or connectors, clogged bubble trap and constricted tubing, all of which will substantially reduce the perfusate pressure and flow rate, thus, affecting liver digestion efficiency. Without a constant heat source in some setups for temperature control, pre-warmed buffers will cool down over time, leading to low collagenase activity and digestion. Although other setups utilize a jacketed glass condenser connected to a water circulator to warm the buffer, they are bulky and require careful cleaning. Temperature, pressure, and flow rate of buffer exiting the catheter must be measured and optimized before the start of isolation toensure stable perfusion condition. Even after optimization, the parameters could still change halfway during isolation due to the actions of the operator, thereby leading to suboptimal perfusion and digestion. Most types of IV catheter are not suitable for portal vein cannulation because they do not allow continuous perfusion during cannulation. They are unable to immediately inform the surgeon when the cannulation is successful. Furthermore, it is challenging to secure the portal vein on the soft catheter without deforming it.
Here, we address these problems using standardized disposable sterile tubing, a silicone heater jacket for precise and stable temperature control, real-time monitoring and alarm system with data storage and management and use of a special IV catheter, which allows continuous perfusion while puncturing portal vein during cannulation. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first group to combine all these features into an integrated perfusion system (IPS) that is compact, making it highly portable and able to be fit into a laminar flow hood to ensure aseptic operation.

<table border="1" fo:keep-together.within-page="1" fo:keep-with-next.within-page="always">
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Material/Equipment</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>1 mL syringe</td>
			<td>Nipro</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>27G needle</td>
			<td>Nipro</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Black braided silk non-absorbable, non-sterile surgical suture</td>
			<td>Look</td>
			<td>SP117</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bochem 18/10 stainless steel forceps, sharp tip contain bent round tip</td>
			<td>Bochem</td>
			<td>10333511</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Disposable Perfusion Set</td>
			<td>Vasinfuse</td>
			<td>BPF-112</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Floating circular 1.5 mL microcentrifuge tube rack</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>R3133</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>German Standard Tissue Forceps, Serrated / 1&#215;2 teeth , 14.5cm</td>
			<td>Walentech</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Greiner Cellstar aspirating pipette</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>GN710183</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Haemocytometer</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Integrated Perfusion System</td>
			<td>Vasinfuse</td>
			<td>IPS-001</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Iris Scissors curved, stainless, 11cm</td>
			<td>Optimal Medical Products Pte Ltd</td>
			<td>CVD</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Light microscope with 10X lens</td>
			<td>Olympus</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Mesh Sheet 100&#181;M Nylon</td>
			<td>Spectra-Teknic(s) Pte Ltd</td>
			<td>06630-75</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Operating Scissors, BL/BL, 13cm</td>
			<td>Optimal Medical Products Pte Ltd</td>
			<td>STR &#8211; BL/BL</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Operating Scissors, SH/BL, 13cm</td>
			<td>Optimal Medical Products Pte Ltd</td>
			<td>STR &#8211; SH/BL</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Reverse force hemostatic clip</td>
			<td>Shanghai Jin Zhong Pte Ltd</td>
			<td>XEC230</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Water bath</td>
			<td>Grant</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Reagents/Chemicals</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>10X Phosphate buffered saline (PBS)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Bovine serum albumin (BSA)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A9056</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>CaCl2&#183;2H2O</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>137101</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Collagenase Type IV</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>17104019</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dexamethasone</td>
			<td>TCI</td>
			<td>D1961</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>DMEM</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>31600-034</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glutamax</td>
			<td>Gibco</td>
			<td>35050061</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>HEPES</td>
			<td>Invitrogen</td>
			<td>11344-041</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Insulin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>1-9278</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KCl</td>
			<td>VWR</td>
			<td>VWRC26764.298</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>KH2PO4</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P5379</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Linoleic acid</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>L9530</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaCl</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S5886</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaHCO3</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>S8875</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>NaOH</td>
			<td>Merck</td>
			<td>106462</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Penicillin-Streptomycin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>P4333</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Type I bovine collagen</td>
			<td>Advanced BioMatrix</td>
			<td>5005-100ml</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>William&#8217;s E Media</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>W1878</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

isolation of primary rat hepatocytes with multiparameter perfusion control

Primary hepatocytes are widely used in basic research on liver diseases and for toxicity testing in vitro. The two-step collagenase perfusion procedure for primary hepatocyte isolation is technically challenging, especially in portal vein cannulation. The procedure is also prone to occasional contamination and variations in perfusion conditions due to difficulties in the assembly, optimization, or maintenance of the perfusion setup. Here, a detailed protocol for an improved two-step collagenase perfusion procedure with multiparameter perfusion control is presented. Primary rat hepatocytes were successfully and reliably isolated by taking the necessary technical precautions at critical steps of the procedure, and by reducing the operational difficulty and mitigating the variability of perfusion parameters through the adoption of a special intravenous catheter, standardized sterile disposable tubing, temperature control, and real-time monitoring and alarm system. The isolated primary rat hepatocytes consistently exhibit high cell viability (85%-95%), yield (2-5 x 108 cells per 200-300 g rat) and functionality (albumin, urea and CYP activity). The procedure was complemented by an integrated perfusion system, which is compact enough to be set up in the laminar flow hood to ensure aseptic operation.

A surgeon could tell whether liver perfusion is going on smoothly by observing the outcome after certain steps. The first outcome can be observed upon cannulation, cutting of the infrahepatic IVC, and restoring the perfusion flow rate. The liver should have completely changed color from dark red to brown, while maintaining its volume. If the liver looks slightly deflated and has a reddish tint or blotches of red, it means that the perfusion flow rate was set wrongly (too low), or the portal vein was not cannulated correc...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Isolation of Primary Rat Hepatocytes with Multiparameter Perfusion Control at JoVE.com

Isolation of Primary Rat Hepatocytes with Multiparameter Perfusion Control

This protocol details the use of a special intravenous catheter, standardized sterile disposable tubing, temperature control complemented by real-time monitoring, and an alarm system for two-step collagenase perfusion procedure to improve the consistency in the viability, yield, and functionality of isolated primary rat hepatocytes.

Primary hepatocytes are widely used in basic research on liver diseases and for toxicity testing in vitro. The two-step collagenase perfusion procedure ...

This rat hepatocytes isolation protocol is based on the liver resection prior to digestion approach. The protocol introduces a compact and portable integrated perfusion system for cell isolation. This technique involves collagenase recirculation which reduces the volume of collagenase use, and provides more flexibility in extension of digestion time while ensuring high gravity yield and hepatocytes specific function.Put the rat in the hood. After cutting the abdominal muscles, push the intestines to the right with the back of the curved forceps. Break the membrane underneath the bile duct with the tip of the curved forceps for looping the suture around the portal vein and the bile duct.Use a silk surgical suture to make a very loose ligature around the portal vein close to the liver, just before the vein branches left and right into different liver lobes. About two to three centimeters upstream of the first ligature, just before the gastric vein branches off from the portal vein, create a hole through the tissue underneath the portal vein with the tips of two pairs of curved forceps. Then stretch the hole to support the portal vein during cannulation.Prevent pressure buildup in the liver by reducing the pump speed to four RPM for a flow rate of approximately three milliliters per minute. And ensure that the outflow of the calcium free buffer from the intravenous catheter is reduced to a slow drip. While gently supporting the portal vein with forceps, hold the intravenous catheter with the bevel of the needle facing up.And insert the needle into the portal vein at a 10 to 20 degree angle. Then slowly advance until the whole bevel is inside the vein. Correct insertion should result in blanching of the liver color.Advance the cannula over the needle, and retract the needle behind the cannula by pulling back the wing with the index finger while holding the catheter with the thumb and middle finger. Secure the portal vein onto the catheter with a vein clip and clip below the portal vein to avoid perfusing flow disruption. Next, cut the infrahepatic inferior vena cava to prevent the pressure buildup in the liver, and observe for blood spurting impulses to ensure the correct cut.Increase the pump speed to 38 RPM for a flow rate of approximately 33 milliliters per minute. And flush the liver three times by closing the infrahepatic inferior vena cava with forceps for two to three seconds, and then reopening it. In order to perfuse all liver lobes, adjust the position of the cannula tip and make sure that it is placed before the portal vein branches into different liver lobes.Then, tighten the loose ligature around the portal vein, slightly upstream of the branching point, and secure the position of the cannula in the portal vein to prevent backflow of the buffer by making three knots at the point where the hard needle supports the cannula, in between the bevel and the side hole. After liver resection allow the liver to perfuse with the calcium free buffer for 12 minutes. Then, tighten the roller clamp of calcium free buffer and loosen the roller clamp of collagenase buffer to change the perfusion buffer.After the collagenase buffer reaches the liver, flush the liver three times by closing the suprahepatic inferior vena cava for two to three seconds and reopening it. Carefully move the liver to the stage on top of the beaker for recirculation of the collagenase buffer by holding the diaphragm with forceps while supporting the catheter, taking care not to pull the catheter to prevent accidental detachment. Digest the liver for 12 minutes, and stop the perfusion when the liver loses its smooth brown texture and becomes mushy.Extend the digestion time if necessary. After digestion of the liver cut the portal vein carefully remove the cannula. And then transfer the liver into cold DMEM to isolate the hepatocytes.Gently tap the liver using the backside of the curved forceps to break and peel off the glistens capsule. And release the liver cells by gently swaying the liver in DMEM until the cells are fully dissociated in the media. The viability of hepatocytes was between 88 to 94.8%as determined by trip and blue counting.The yield of hepatocytes from rats weighing 200 to 300 grams was up to five times 10 to the eighth cells per isolation. The representative images are showing unpurified liver cell suspension and purified hepatocyte suspension. The purity of the isolated hepatocytes was approximately 96.8%which was quantified by counting albumin positive fluorescent stained cells in relation to the total number of the cell nuclei.In the representative images shown in false color, green represents the albumin, and blue indicates the cell nuclei with albumin. Cell nuclei without albumin are highlighted red. The hepatocytes in sandwich culture formed distinct bile canaliculi, and had good cell cell contact.As shown by albumin, urea and cytochrome P450 assays, the hepatocytes exhibited high urea and albumin secretion. On day three, the hepatocytes exhibited high enzyme activities for CYP1A2, CYP2B1/2, and CYP3B2. Be mentally prepared before inserting the needle into the portal vein.Upon insertion, a surgeon will need to continue without pulse until the pump speed was increased after cutting the IVC.

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Tumors create a unique immunosuppressive microenvironment (tumor microenvironment, TME) whereby leukocytes are recruited into the tumor by various ...

Culturing Primary Rat Inner Medullary Collecting Duct Cells

Arginine-vasopressin (AVP) facilitates water reabsorption by renal collecting duct principal cells and thereby fine-tunes body water homeostasis. AVP ...

Isolation and Culture of Mouse Primary Pancreatic Acinar Cells

This protocol permits rapid isolation (in less than 1 hr) of murine pancreatic acini, making it possible to maintain them in culture for more than one ...

Isolation of Human Hepatocytes by a Two-step Collagenase Perfusion Procedure

The liver, an organ with an exceptional regeneration capacity, carries out a wide range of functions, such as detoxification, metabolism and homeostasis. ...

Determination of Fatty Acid Oxidation and Lipogenesis in Mouse Primary Hepatocytes

Lipid metabolism in liver is complex. In addition to importing and exporting lipid via lipoproteins, hepatocytes can oxidize lipid via fatty acid ...

Protocol for Isolation of Primary Human Hepatocytes and Corresponding Major Populations of Non-parenchymal Liver Cells

Beside parenchymal hepatocytes, the liver consists of non-parenchymal cells (NPC) namely Kupffer cells (KC), liver endothelial cells (LEC) and hepatic ...

Primary Culture of Rat Adrenocortical Cells and Assays of Steroidogenic Functions

The hormone which the adrenal cortex secretes is vital for animals against stress and diseases. The method described here is the procedure of primary ...