Recovery of transferrin receptors on hepatocytes membrane after collagenase perfusion.

Hepatocyte cell suspensions obtained by collagenase perfusion method did not have transferrin (TF) receptors. However, after incubation at 37 degrees, they appeared to gain TF receptors, the number of which was the function of incubation time at 37 degrees. It is suggested that hepatocyte TF receptors are collagenase-sensitive. This study can explain previous observations that hepatocyte isolated with collagenase treatment of the tissue do not bind TF at 4 degrees but take up TF at 37 degrees.