SMALL LIVER CELL-RICH COLONY, METHOD OF PREPARING THE SAME, METHOD OF MATURING THE SAME INTO LIVER TISSUE AND METHOD OF ESTIMATING DRUG FUNCTION USING THE MATURED SMALL LIVER CELL-RICH COLONY

摘要

It is intended to provide a liver tissue which can be transplanted, a cell colony suitable therefor and a method of preparing the same. A small liver cell-rich colony wherein small liver cells constituting the same amount to about 70% or more of the total cells, in particular, a cell colony consisting of about 10 to about 30 cells wherein small liver cells constituting the same amount to about 70% or more of the total cells. A method of preparing such a small liver cell-rich colony is also disclosed. A method of inducing the maturation of the small liver cell-rich colony into a liver tissue; and a method of estimating the effect of a drug (in particular, an effect relating to normal liver functions) in vitro by using the small liver cell-rich colony the maturation of which has been thus induced.