Evaluation of technical aspects of the preparation of haemopoietic cells from human fetal liver.

Methods employing both mechanical and enzymatic treatment for obtaining single cell suspension from human fetal livers were compared. Subsequently, the effects of various media and sera on cell survival in fetal liver cell suspensions were studied with special attention to short term storage at 4 degrees C. The largest number of living cells was obtained after homogenization of fragments of fetal liver by teasing them through metal sieve. Cell survival was the best when HEPES buffered Dulbecco MEM supplemented with 20-30% of human AB group serum was used throughout. More than of 50% granulocytemonocyte progenitor cells (GM-CFU) were still present in this suspension after 96 hours of storage at 4 degrees C.