| pubmed-article:9129774 | pubmed:abstractText | New assays were compared with tritiated thymidine (3HTdR) and trypan blue dye exclusion for evaluating hepatocyte viability on cytodex 3 beads and in microcapsules, the matrices used in bioartificial liver support systems. They were the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) 5 min qualitative assay and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4 -sulfophenyl)-2H -tetrazolium, inner salt (MTS) 1 h quantitative assay. Both tetrazolium salts are cleaved in active mitochondria, the reaction occurring, therefore, in living cells only. After bathing at 39 degrees C with MTT for 5 min, porcine or rat hepatocytes on cytodex 3 beads were detached by collagenase while those in microcapsules were released by citrate treatment or passage through a fine needle. Cell viability was determined directly by microscope. The MTT 5 min metabolic inclusion test and MTS 1 h quantitative assay results correlated closely with those obtained by the 3HTdR, trypan blue dye exclusion, and fluorescein diacetate (FDA) methods. Both the new assays are sensitive, accurate, simple, and time-saving. | lld:pubmed |
