Vitellogenin (VTG) induction in response estradiol-17${eta}$ ($E_2$) were electrophoretically examined in primary hepatocyte cultures in rainbow trout. The hepatocytes were maintained as monolayers on positively charged dishes for up to 7 days. The viability of hepatocytes on Day 7 in cultures decreased about 20.7% and 23.6% with and without $E_2$, respecitively. The amount of DNA per dish also decreased to 13.7% and 14.0% with and without $E_2$, respectively. There were no differences in viability and DNA content between the control and $E_2$-treated culture. Moreover, the rate of VTG to total protein concentrations reached the maxium level at the addition of $10^{-6}$ M E2, to the incubation medium. However, the higher concentration of $10^{-5}$ M $E_2$ rater depressed the level.