Abstract:

Objective To select the rat strain relatively more suitable for model establishment by comparison of hepatic oval cell proliferation models from different rat strains. Methods Ten F344 rats, 10 Wistar rats and 10 SD rats were selected, hepatic oval cell proliferation models were established respectively by intragastric administration of 2-acetylaminofluorene and intraperitoneally injection of carbon tetrachloride, and were identified by histological examination and immunohistochemical examination. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting was employed to separate and purify the hepatic oval cells from different rat strains, percentages of Thy-1.1+ cells were analysed, and culture results of Thy-1.1+ cells were observed. Results Hepatic oval cell proliferation models from three rat strains were successfully established. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting revealed that the percentages of Thy-1.1+ cells in F344 rats, Wistar Rats and SD rats were (9.46±0.99)%, (2.46±0.37)% and (1.46±0.12)%, respectively, and there were significant differences in percentages of Thy-1.1+cells among different rat strains (P<0.05). Observation of cell culture indicated that compared with Wistar rats and SD rats, hepatic oval cells separated from F344 rats were in better growth state and higher purifity. Conclusion Among the three rat strains most commonly used for hepatic oval cell proliferation models, hepatic oval cells from F344 rats have the highest activation efficiency.

Key words: rat strains, hepatic oval cells, animal proliferation model, cell sorting, cell culture