The first auction of human cell strains in Japan was held Friday at a Tokyo hospital.

The cell strains -- previously owned by Hideo Okumura, 68, head of the Japan Human Cell Society -- had been seized as collateral for loans totaling 120 million yen.

They were purchased for 160 million yen by the creditor, a Tokyo businessman, who will be reimbursed the 120 million yen he initially lent to the researcher from the court. The businessman made the bid in order to prevent the cells from getting into the hands of a third party and will now consider future business propositions, his agent said.