Abstract
Summary
The effect of L-929 fibroblasts, Chang liver cells and rat liver cells on 10 mg% unconjugated bilirubin bound to albumin and introduced into tissue culture medium was studied. In the presence of these cells incubated at 4°C or 37°C there was a drop in concentration of bilirubin which exceeded by far that occurring spontaneously. This drop was observed as early as one minute after the introduction of bilirubin in the medium and did not vary appreciably during the next 48 hours. Conjugation or metabolization of bilirubin could not be demonstrated. These results are similar to those previously obtained with chick spleen macrophages and indicate that bilirubin in tissue culture is readily adsorbed on various cells or cell products. The bilirubin had no ill effects on the cells studied.
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