Abstract
Isolated pig liver cells cultured using a perfusion technique were analyzed over 39 days to test their ability to change the perfusate α-keto acid profile. While the pyruvate concentration in the culture medium decreased as of the first day, the α-ketoglutarate (KG), α-ketoisocaproate (KIC), α-ketoisovalerate (KIV) and α-ketoβ-methyl-n-valerate (KMV) were synthesized immediately and released by the liver cells. The metabolic capacity of the cell culture system increased up to day 10, decreased during the following 5 days and reached a steady state beyond day 15, which was maintained for at least 30 days. The branched chain α-keto acid release, in particular α-ketoisocaproate, reflects an effective transamination capacity of the newly developed culture system and shows an intact protein biosynthesis for at least 30 days in vitro.
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