Objective To investigate the feasibility of fetal liver cells for liver tissue engineering, the supporting function of poly L lactic acid (PLLA) scaffold for fetal liver cells and the effects of oncostatin M (OSM), nicotinamide (NA) and dimethyl sulfoxide(DMSO) on growth and hepatic differentiation. Methods After three dimensional PLLA scaffolds having a porous structure were prepared by using NH 4HCO 3 particle, fetal liver cells obtained from E14.5 C57BL/6CrSlc murine embryos were inoculated in the scaffolds. Cells were cultured in Williams’E medium with or without OSM, NA and DMSO for 30 days. Changes in cell number, liver-specific function, and cellular morphology were observed. Results When compared with in monolayer culture, cell number and albumin secretion increased obviously in three-dimensional PLLA. Alburmin secretion increased slightly in OSM group of monolayer culture, but increased obviously in OSM groupo of PLLA culture and in OSM/NA/DMSO group of both monlayer and PLLA cultures. Conclusion The three-dimensional PLLA scaffold is a good supporting material for the cultivation of tetal liver cells. OSM, NA and DMSO remarkaly stimulated maturation of hepatic parenchymal cells in vitro in terms of morphology and liver-specific function.
