OBJECTIVES: By culturing primary early (8 to 12-weeks-old) human fetal hepatocytes with different conditions, to study the status of cell susceptibility to HBV. METHODS: During primary culture of 10-weeks-old human fetal hepatocytes with serum-free medium adding different differentiation-induced ingredients, to inoculate cell with HBV at certain time. Cell shape, function and markers of HBV infection are measured. RESULTS: 6 days after seeding, markers of mature hepatocytes are observed in cells cultured with 2.5mmol/L phenobarbital sodium, and these cells show susceptibility to HBV. Other ingredients cannot render hepatocytes susceptible to HBV. CONCLUSION: Phenobarbital sodium induces differentiation and susceptibility to HBV in primary culture of early human fetal hepatocytes.
OBJECTIVES: By culturing primary early (8 to 12-weeks-old) human fetal hepatocytes with different conditions, to study the status of cell susceptibility to HBV. METHODS: During primary culture of 10-weeks-old human fetal hepatocytes with serum-free medium adding different differentiation-induced ingredients, to inoculate cell with HBV at certain time. Cell shape, function and markers of HBV infection are measured. RESULTS: 6 days after seeding, markers of mature hepatocytes are observed in cells cultured with 2.5mmol/L phenobarbital sodium, and these cells show susceptibility to HBV. Other ingredients cannot render hepatocytes susceptible to HBV. CONCLUSION:Phenobarbital sodium induces differentiation and susceptibility to HBV in primary culture of early human fetal hepatocytes.