Biomaterial Database

Drug metabolism by isolated fetal human hepatocytes in suspension and primary culture. 1985

P Wiebkin, and J H Dees, and J M Mathis, and R A Prough

Isolated viable hepatocytes of human fetuses (weeks 12-34 of gestation) were prepared by collagenase/hyaluronidase digestion of liver slices. These cells have the ability to catalyze certain metabolic transformations involved in the disposition of xenobiotics. The levels of enzymes catalyzing oxidative metabolism (phase I) were very low in the fetal liver cells, although such cells possess appreciable metabolic capacity to catalyze synthetic (phase II) reactions. These cells retained the ability to metabolize 7-ethoxycoumarin when maintained in short term, nonproliferating monolayer culture for up to 4 days. The metabolism of 7-ethoxycoumarin was significantly increased by treatment of cells with 1,2-benzanthracene, but not with phenobarbital. The usefulness of isolated fetal human hepatocytes both in suspension and short term culture as model systems for the study of developmental aspects of the enzymes involved in the metabolism of foreign compounds and as a tool for study of various toxic effects of chemicals on the human fetus is discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008099	Liver	A large lobed glandular organ in the abdomen of vertebrates that is responsible for detoxification, metabolism, synthesis and storage of various substances.	Livers
D010634	Phenobarbital	A barbituric acid derivative that acts as a nonselective central nervous system depressant. It potentiates GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID action on GABA-A RECEPTORS, and modulates chloride currents through receptor channels. It also inhibits glutamate induced depolarizations.	Phenemal,Phenobarbitone,Phenylbarbital,Gardenal,Hysteps,Luminal,Phenobarbital Sodium,Phenobarbital, Monosodium Salt,Phenylethylbarbituric Acid,Acid, Phenylethylbarbituric,Monosodium Salt Phenobarbital,Sodium, Phenobarbital
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D003374	Coumarins	Synthetic or naturally occurring substances related to coumarin, the delta-lactone of coumarinic acid.	1,2-Benzopyrone Derivatives,1,2-Benzopyrones,Coumarin Derivative,Coumarine,1,2-Benzo-Pyrones,Benzopyran-2-ones,Coumarin Derivatives,Coumarines,1,2 Benzo Pyrones,1,2 Benzopyrone Derivatives,1,2 Benzopyrones,Benzopyran 2 ones,Derivative, Coumarin,Derivatives, 1,2-Benzopyrone,Derivatives, Coumarin
D005333	Fetus	The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN.	Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001551	Benz(a)Anthracenes	Four fused benzyl rings with three linear and one angular, that can be viewed as a benzyl-phenanthrenes. Compare with NAPHTHACENES which are four linear rings.	Benz(b)Phenanthrenes,Naphthanthracenes
D014468	Umbelliferones	7-Hydroxycoumarins. Substances present in many plants, especially umbelliferae. Umbelliferones are used in sunscreen preparations and may be mutagenic. Their derivatives are used in liver therapy, as reagents, plant growth factors, sunscreens, insecticides, parasiticides, choleretics, spasmolytics, etc.	7-Hydroxycoumarins,Hydrangin,Skimmetin,7 Hydroxycoumarins