A SPECIFIC MICROASSAY FOR EVALUATING HEPATIC LDH ACTIVITY IN COCULTURES OF HEPATOCYTES WITH OTHER CELLS

This study describes the development of a simple, rapid and reproducib le microassay for determining the intracellular LDH activity of rat he patocytes present in a co-culture system with other cells. The procedu re involves treatment of cellular homogenates with an anti-LDH antiser um that specifically inhibits the LDH activity of rat hepatocytes. The assay is performed in 96-well plates and LDH activity can be measured directly in the same wells using a colorimetric method. The differenc e in LDH activity values measured before and after antiserum incubatio n reflects the LDH content of the hepatocytes in the sample. The advan tages of this method are the small number of cells required, a reducti on in sample handling and the possibility of differentiating LDH activ ity in hepatic and non-hepatic cells. The possible applications of thi s technique as a parameter for biochemical data and as a test for cyto toxicity studies in co-cultures are also discussed.