Cat (Feline) Liver Cells

The liver fulfills many vital processes in mammals. It is the central organ of energy metabolism, responsible for the maintenance of the blood sugar level and the synthesis of plasma proteins under physiological and pathophysiological conditions. 

Hepatocytes are the most prominent cells within the liver. Hepatocytes eliminate toxic substances from the blood. In this biotransformation process transporter proteins (influx and efflux transporter), phase I reactions (cytochrome P450 proteins), phase II reactions (mainly glucuronidation and sulfatation) play a central role. 

PRIMACYT is one of the pioneers in the development of advanced in vitro model systems. We are a leading company in the field of research of human and animal hepatocytes. We offer fresh and cryopreserved animal hepatocytes in suspension and plated.

PRIMACYT is approved by the European Commission as an EU Reference Laboratory for Alternatives to Animal Testing (EURL ECVAM) since 2013 and serves as member of the laboratory network responsible for the method validation.

Our colleagues are professionals and undergo continuous training in the preparation, isolation and cryopreservation of hepatocytes in general, including related co-products, methods and tools. We are a GLP certified laboratory since 2006.

Compared with human drugs, the research and development of veterinary drugs is relatively lagging behind but the size of the veterinary drug market is increasing year by year.  

As more and more people choose cats as companion animal, they also take care about the well-being of their pets. Cats, as every other mammal, can develop nearly any type of liver disease that is also known in humans.

Most common are:

• Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty liver disease), mainly in obese cats, but can affect any cat. Fat deposition in the hepatocytes leads to hepatocyte swelling and to acute loss of hepatocyte function.
• Hepatitis (Inflammation of the liver), can be caused by bacterial or viral infection, parasites
• Cholangiohepatitis (Inflammation of the liver and the bile ducts), also caused by parasites, viral or bacterial infection.
• Liver cancer

When compared with dogs, cats have different anatomy and biochemical make-up particularly with regard to their liver. While in dog bile duct and pancreatic duct are separated, in cats the bile duct joints the pancreatic ducts. This allows for reflux and mixing of gastrointestinal contents with bile and pancreatic secretions.

Biotransformation and Catabolic capabilities:

Cats have a relative deficiency in Phase II enzymes, in particular of the enzyme Glucuronyltransferase, which means they have a reduced capacity to metabolise certain toxins and drugs.

Cats are carnivores. They have a high activity of protein-catabolising enzymes and, therefore, a high protein requirement, which cannot be down-regulated quickly, even in conditions of starvation or illness.

Hormones like Glucagon or Corticoids fail to stimulate proteolysis in cat hepatocytes.

Further reading

D.C. Twedt: Update on Feline Hepatobiliary Disease. J Feline Med Surg 8 (5): xi–xiv (2006), doi: 10.1016/S1098-612X-06-00125-2

J.M Cullen: Summary of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association Standardization Committee Guide to Classification of Liver Disease in Dogs and Cats. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract. 39 (3): 395–418 (2009) doi: 10.1016/j.cvsm.2009.02.003

S.V. Primal, S. Silva, and J.R. Mercer: The control of protein degradation in monolayer cultures of cat hepatocytes. Int. J. of Biochemistry 24 (10): 1651-1656 (1992), https://doi.org/10.1016/0020-711X(92)90183-2

Cat hepatocytes are isolated from livers obtained from male cat. Donor demographics stating vaccination status and health status of the animals are available for each animal.

PRIMACYT offers certified pooled cat hepatocytes. Each lot is tested use in suspension assays, plateability in 2D and 3D formats, and Cytochrome P450 indicibiltiy.

This info refers to the product data below:

• Inventory: Number of vials available as of date of last update. Availability of vials may have changed since that date by interim orders.
• Characterization: Denotes assays that have been performed to characterize the products.
• To print lot information, please select the print icon at the end of the lists below. For research use only.
• Not intended for human or animal diagnostic or therapeutic use.

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