Separation of different cell populations of rat liver by density gradient centrifugation in a vertical rotor with self-generated Percoll gradients.

A procedure is described which, with good resolution, separates viable rat liver parenchymal cells from other cell populations present in crude suspensions of liver cells. Fractionation is carried out by vertical rotor centrifugation in a self-generated Percoll gradient. Kupffer cells can be separated from other sinusoidal cells, resulting in a separate peak of peroxidase negative non-parenchymal cells, composed mainly of endothelial cells.