Promotion of monolayer formation and high expression of ammonia metabolism of primary rat hepatocytes on arginine-glycine-aspartic acid-containing peptide-coated polystyrene dish

Cell adhesive peptide Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) was immobilized using ProNectin F (PnF) on a nontreated polystyrene petri dish at a PnF density of 20 ng cm−2, which is sufficient for primary rat hepatocyte immobilization. The density of PnF on the dish affects cell morphology and expression of the differentiated functions within the range of 2-2500 ng cm−2. An optimal monolayer state with defined cell boundaries and hepatocyte nuclei was formed on a 2500 ng cm−2 PnF-coated petri dish, and the ammonia metabolic function was expressed at as high a level as in the hepatocyte/spheroid. We conclude that 2500 ng cm−2 PnF enhances the morphological stability and expression of liver-specific functions of the hepatocyte.