Cell Isolation Through Whole-Liver Perfusion and Preparation of Hepatocytes for Cytochrome P450 Analysis

Activity of cytochrome p450 (CYP450) enzyme is used to measure the ability of hepatocytes to metabolize pharmaceutical compounds. When determining functionality of hepatocytes, the cells may be induced in order to determine metabolic activity after drug induction. Hepatocytes, whether in suspension or plated, are used in the pharmaceutical industry as a surrogate to assess in vivo drug metabolism. Within this chapter, isolation of hepatocytes from whole-liver tissue and subsequent preparation for CYP450 istotype 3A4 activity is discussed.