Metabolic activity of fresh and cryopreserved cynomolgus monkey (Macaca fascicularis) hepatocytes

1. The effect of cryopreservation on the metabolic capacity of monkey hepatocytes over 4 h in suspension and 24 h in culture was determined. Hepatocytes were diluted in a buffer containing 10% DMSO and frozen in a computer-controlled chamber. 2. Initial ethoxyresorufin and ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase (ECOD) activities were the same in fresh and cryopreserved (CP) hepatocytes. ECOD activity in suspensions declined over 4 h but was the same in fresh and CP hepatocytes. 3. The formation of testosterone hydroxy (OHT) metabolites (namely 6beta-OHT, 2beta-OHT, 16beta-OHT, 16alpha-OHT, 15beta-OHT, 2alpha-OHT and 6beta-OHT) was unaffected by cryopreservation. The loss of OHT activities over 4 h in …