Hepatocytes alone are not able to fully represent in vivo functionality during toxicology evaluations. Co-cultures are a liver-derived in vitro model system that aims to preserve liver-specific morphology and functionality beyond what is provided by pure parenchymal cell cultures.
Co-cultures can be prepared using hepatocytes and non-parenchymal cell (NPC) cultures which, has been evidenced to be one of the most successful models for maintaining functionality in vitro when examining drug-related hepatotoxicity. NPCs characterized for the co-culture with hepatocytes in basement membrane overlay.
