ASSESSMENT OF THE FUNCTIONAL INTEGRITY OF HEPATOCYTES - A BRIEF REVIEW

A variety of approaches to assessment of cellular integrity exist, bas ed on tests of integrity of the plasma membrane, tests of metabolic co mpetence, and asessment of morphology. By definition, such approaches address different aspects of cellular integrity and hence are not inte rchangeable indices of cellular integrity. Accordingly, it would be mo st appropriate to characterise hepatocyte preparations on the basis of more than just trypan blue dye exclusion (a test of plasma membrane i ntegrity) as is customary. A scheme for the choice of the most appropr iate mix of tests of cellular integrity is presented.