scholarly journals Uptake and binding of cadmium and mercury to metallothionein in rat hepatocyte primary cultures

1982 ◽  
Vol 208 (2) ◽  
pp. 465-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald J. Gerson ◽  
Zahir A. Shaikh
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Rat Hepatocytes ◽  
Isolated Hepatocytes ◽  
Fresh Medium ◽  
Control Value ◽  
Dispositional Differences ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Hepatocyte Monolayer

The administration of inorganic Cd and Hg in vivo has been shown to result in markedly different metal concentrations in rat liver. Primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were utilized to gain insight into the dispositional differences between these chemically similar metals. Hepatocyte monolayer cultures were exposed to several concentrations of Cd or Hg (3, 10 and 30μm) in serum-containing medium for 30min. The cells were then washed and incubated in fresh medium for the remainder of the experiment. Hepatocytes exposed to Cd accumulated significantly more metal than hepatocytes exposed to equimolar concentrations of Hg. In cells exposed to 3μm-Cd there was an initial loss of Cd from the hepatocytes when placed in fresh medium, followed by a gradual re-uptake of metal, concomitant with increased binding to metallothionein. In hepatocytes exposed to 3 and 10μm-Cd, 87 and 77% of the intracellular Cd was bound to metallothionein within 24h. Loss of Hg from hepatocytes pulsed with 30μm-Hg was also observed upon the addition of fresh medium and continued for the duration of the experiment. No time-dependent increase in Hg binding to metallothionein was observed. A maximum of about 10% of the intracellular Hg was found associated with metallothionein in hepatocytes exposed to 30μm-Hg. Studies utilizing [35S]cysteine incorporation indicated significant increases in the amount of metallothionein synthesized in hepatocytes exposed to 3 and 10μm-Cd (300% of control value) and 30μm-Hg (150% of control value) 24h after metal pulsing. Time-course studies revealed a 6–12h lag in metallothionein synthesis, followed by a significant elevation in [35S]cysteine incorporation into metallothionein between 12 and 24h. These studies suggest that (a) isolated hepatocytes differentiate between Cd and Hg and preferentially accumulate the former, and (b) Cd strongly stimulates the induction of, and preferentially binds to, metallothionein, whereas Hg induces weakly, and does not preferentially bind to, metallothionein.

Hormonal induction of malic enzyme in rat hepatocytes cultured on laminin-rich gels

1992 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-242 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. Mann ◽  
A. J. Strain ◽  
E. Bailey
Keyword(s):  
Malic Enzyme ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Rat Hepatocytes ◽  
Isolated Hepatocytes ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Adult Rat Hepatocytes ◽  
Species Being ◽  
Rat Tail

ABSTRACT The levels of malic-enzyme mRNA and activity were determined in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes maintained on either rat-tail collagen or a laminin-rich substratum. Cells plated on laminin-rich gels exhibited substantially improved patterns of albumin and malic-enzyme expression when compared with cells maintained on rat-tail collagen. Moreover, hepatocytes plated on the laminin-rich matrix displayed marked malic-enzyme inducibility in response to tri-iodothyronine and dichloroacetate, especially in the presence of insulin. However, Northern blot analysis revealed that the ratio of the amounts of the two major malic-enzyme mRNA species (2.0 and 3.1 kb) was reversed when compared with that found in the liver in vivo, the altered levels of these two species being closer to those found in non-hepatic tissues. These findings indicate that, although the hormonal responsiveness of isolated hepatocytes maintained on laminin-rich gels is markedly improved, and approaches the degree of induction demonstrated in the liver in vivo, the mechanisms of control differ, indicating a loss of liver-specific expression.

Hormonal modulation of hepatic plasma membrane lactate transport in cultured rat hepatocytes

1990 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 573-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. K. Metcalfe ◽  
R. D. Cohen ◽  
J. P. Monson
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Rat Hepatocytes ◽  
Isolated Hepatocytes ◽  
Similar Magnitude ◽  
Potential Mechanism ◽  
Lactate Transport ◽  
Hormonal Modulation ◽  
Cultured Rat Hepatocytes

Hormonal modulation of hepatic plasma membrane lactate transport was studied in primary cultures of isolated hepatocytes from fed rats to examine the mechanism for the known enhancement of lactate transport in starvation and diabetes. Total cellular lactate entry was increased by 14% in the presence of dexamethasone; this was accounted for by an approximately 40% increase in the carrier-mediated component of entry with no effect on diffusion. A trend of similar magnitude was evident with glucagon. The effects of dexamethasone and glucagon on lactate transport constitute an additional potential mechanism for enhancement of gluconeogenesis by these hormones.

Effect of thyroid hormones on angiotensinogen production in the rat in vivo and in vitro

1987 ◽  
Vol 115 (2) ◽  
pp. 311-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ruiz ◽  
M. Montiel ◽  
E. Jimenez ◽  
M. Morell
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Plasma Renin ◽  
Rat Hepatocytes ◽  
In Vitro System ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Monolayer Cultures ◽  
Thyroid Dysfunctions

ABSTRACT The influence of thyroid hormones on angiotensinogen production was studied in vitro and in vivo. In the in-vitro system, angiotensinogen production rate (APR) of monolayer cultures of rat hepatocytes in response to tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) was assayed. In the in-vivo system, plasma angiotensinogen concentration (PAC) and liver angiotensinogen content (LAC) were measured in hyper- and hypothyroid rats. In both thyroid dysfunctions, a significant decrease of PAC was found compared with that in control animals; however, LAC showed a significant increase in hyperthyroidism and a marked decrease in hypothyroidism. As PAC is dependent upon both angiotensinogen production by the liver and angiotensinogen degradation by renin, the decrease in PAC observed in hyperthyroidism could be due to an increase in plasma renin concentration, which would overcome the increased synthesis of liver angiotensinogen observed in these animals. In fact, addition of various concentrations of T4 or T3 to monolayer cultures of adult rat hepatocytes significantly enhanced APR. This increase was greater and started earlier with T3 (1196·1 ± 143·7 (s.d.) pg/mg protein per 6-h incubation; significant differences at the third hour of incubation) than with T4 (858·3 ± 88·2 pg/mg protein per 6-h incubation; significant differences at the sixth hour of incubation). In addition, a close dose–response relationship was found in the cultures supplemented with T3. The different time-course in the response elicited by T3 and T4 on APR could be a consequence of the necessary transformation of T4 into T3 to acquire biological activity. J. Endocr. (1987) 115, 311–315

scholarly journals Effects of monensin on insulin interactions with isolated hepatocytes. Evidence for inhibition of receptor recycling and insulin degradation

1986 ◽  
Vol 234 (2) ◽  
pp. 463-468 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Whittaker ◽  
V A Hammond ◽  
R Taylor ◽  
K G M M Alberti
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Rat Hepatocytes ◽  
Insulin Binding ◽  
Isolated Hepatocytes ◽  
Insulin Degradation ◽  
Receptor Recycling ◽  
Surface Binding ◽  
Binding Studies ◽  
Isolated Rat Hepatocytes ◽  
Receptor Concentration

Recent evidence suggests that, during endocytosis, receptors for many polypeptide ligands are spared degradation and are recycled to the plasma membrane for re-utilization. The univalent ionophore monensin was shown to inhibit membrane recycling. We therefore examined its effects on insulin interactions with isolated rat hepatocytes to characterize further receptor endocytosis and recycling in these cells. At 10 degrees C, in the absence of endocytosis, no change in insulin binding was observed. However, at 37 degrees C a concentration-dependent decrease in 125I-insulin binding was seen in the presence of insulin; this reached a maximum of 60% at 1 nM-insulin. Competitive binding studies showed this to be due to a 50-60% decrease in cell-surface insulin-receptor concentration, although the total cellular receptor concentration remained unchanged, suggesting that monensin causes the intracellular sequestration of receptors. Time-course studies of the processing of 2.5 nM-insulin showed that monensin produced a 50-60% decrease in surface binding, accompanied by a similar decrease in internalization and total inhibition of insulin degradation. When hepatocytes with 125I-insulin prebound to their surface receptors at 10 degrees C were warmed to 37 degrees C, monensin had no effect on internalization, but caused marked impairment of intracellular insulin degradation. It is concluded that monensin inhibits receptor recycling and cellular insulin degradation.

scholarly journals Hormonal control of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate concentration in isolated rat hepatocytes

1983 ◽  
Vol 214 (3) ◽  
pp. 829-837 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Bartrons ◽  
L Hue ◽  
E Van Schaftingen ◽  
H G Hers
Keyword(s):  
Cyclic Amp ◽  
Pyruvate Kinase ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Rat Hepatocytes ◽  
Isolated Hepatocytes ◽  
Hormonal Control ◽  
Isolated Rat Hepatocytes ◽  
Free System ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Dependent Protein

The ability of glucagon and of adrenaline to affect the concentration of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate in isolated hepatocytes was re-investigated because of important discrepancies existing in the literature. We were unable to detect a significant difference in the sensitivity of the hepatocytes with regard to the effect of glucagon to initiate the interconversion of phosphorylase, pyruvate kinase, 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase, and also to cause the disappearance of fructose 2,6-bisphosphate. In contrast, we have observed differences in the time-course of these various changes, since the interconversions of phosphorylase and of pyruvate kinase were at least twice as fast as those of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and of fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase. When measured in a cell-free system in the presence of MgATP, the cyclic AMP-dependent interconversion of pyruvate kinase was 5-10-fold more rapid than those of 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and of fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase. These data indicate that 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase and fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase are relatively poor substrates for cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase; they also support the hypothesis that the two catalytic activities belong to a single protein. Adrenaline had only a slight effect on the several parameters under investigation, except for the activation of phosphorylase. In the absence of Ca2+ ions from the incubation medium, however, adrenaline had an effect similar to that of glucagon.

Effects of variation of the tri-iodothyronine/reverse triiodothyronine ratio in vivo on the metabolic characteristics of subsequently isolated hepatocytes

1987 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 511-513
Author(s):  
A. Al-Saadi ◽  
D. Sprague ◽  
M. Sugden ◽  
A. Goode ◽  
S. Orr
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Glucose Production ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Isolated Hepatocytes ◽  
Major Product ◽  
Control Value ◽  
Metabolic Characteristics ◽  
Reverse Triiodothyronine ◽  
14Co2 Release

1. Reverse tri-iodothyronine (3,3′,5′-tri-iodothyronine, rT3), a major product of the peripheral monodeiodination of thyroxine, was administered subcutaneously to fed rats at a dose of 100 μg/100 g body weight for 2 consecutive days. 2. This dose induced a 17-fold increase in plasma rT3 (from 0.05±sem 0.01 to 0.85±0.11 ng/ml, P > 0.001) whilst the plasma T3 concentration was decreased to half of the control value (0.40 ± 0.03 to 0.20 ± 0.02 ng/ml, P > 0.01). 3. As a result of these changes the T3/rT3 ratio was therefore decreased from 8.0 ±1.6 to 0.23 ± 0.03 (P > 0.001). 4. Hepatocytes prepared from control or rT3treated rats were incubated with [l-14C]oleate and the rates of 14CO2 release and glucose production were estimated. Despite the changes in ratio of T3 to rT3 observed in vivo, rates of 14CO2 release and glucose production rate from hepatocytes subsequently isolated were unchanged.

scholarly journals Glutathione analogues as novel inhibitors of rat and human glutathione S-transferase isoenzymes, as well as of glutathione conjugation in isolated rat hepatocytes and in the rat in vivo

1995 ◽  
Vol 308 (1) ◽  
pp. 283-290 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Ouwerkerk-Mahadevan ◽  
J H van Boom ◽  
M C Dreef-Tromp ◽  
J H T M Ploemen ◽  
D J Meyer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ethyl Ester ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Rat Hepatocytes ◽  
Isolated Hepatocytes ◽  
Glutathione S Transferase ◽  
Isolated Rat Hepatocytes ◽  
Glutathione S Transferases ◽  
Gamma S ◽  
Isolated Rat

Inhibitors of rat and human Alpha- and Mu-class glutathione S-transferases that effectively inhibit the glutathione (GSH) conjugation of bromosulphophthalein in the rat liver cytosolic fraction, isolated rat hepatocytes and in the rat liver in vivo have been developed. The GSH analogue (R)-5-carboxy-2-gamma-(S)-glutamylamino-N-hexylpentamide [Adang, Brussee, van der Gen and Mulder (1991) J. Biol. Chem. 266, 830-836] was used as the lead compound. To obtain more potent inhibitors, it was modified by replacement of the N-hexyl moiety by N-2-heptyl and by esterification of the 5-carboxy group with ethyl and dodecyl groups. In isolated hepatocytes, the branched N-2-heptyl derivatives were stronger inhibitors of GSH conjugation of bromosulphophthalein than the N-hexyl derivatives. The ethyl ester compounds were more efficient than the corresponding unesterified derivatives. The dodecyl ester of the N-2-heptyl analogue was the most effective inhibitor in isolated hepatocytes, but was relatively toxic in vivo. However, the corresponding ethyl ester was a potent in vivo inhibitor: GSH conjugation of bromosulphophthalein (as assessed by biliary excretion of the conjugate) was decreased by 70% after administration of a dose of 200 mumol/kg. The isoenzyme specificity of the inhibitors towards purified rat and human glutathione S-transferases was also examined. The unesterified compounds were more potent than the esterified analogues, and inhibited Alpha- and Mu-class isoenzymes of both rat and human glutathione S-transferase (Ki range 1-40 microM). Other GSH-dependent enzymes, i.e. GSH peroxidase, GSH reductase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptide, were not inhibited. Thus (R)-5-ethyloxycarbonyl-2-gamma-(S)-glutamylamino-N-2-hept ylpentamide, the in vivo inhibitor of GSH conjugation, may be useful in helping to assess the role of the Alpha and Mu classes of glutathione S-transferases in cellular biochemistry, physiology and pathology.

scholarly journals Glucagon and ammonia influence the long-term regulation of phosphate-dependent glutaminase activity in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes

1991 ◽  
Vol 274 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
J D McGivan ◽  
K Boon ◽  
F A Doyle
Keyword(s):  
Culture Medium ◽  
Primary Cultures ◽  
Rat Hepatocytes ◽  
Extracellular Medium ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Continuous Presence ◽  
Protein Free Diet ◽  
Glutaminase Activity

1. Glutaminase activity was measured in primary cultures of hepatocytes. 2. Enzyme activity decreased markedly after 24-40 h in culture, and this loss of activity was accompanied by loss of enzyme protein. 3. The loss of activity was delayed by high concentrations of glutamine, and was abolished by the continuous presence of NH4Cl in the culture medium. 4. In cells from rats fed on high-carbohydrate protein-free diet, glutaminase activity was increased by glucagon, but not by dexamethasone. This induction was observed only in the continuous presence of NH3 or high concentrations of glutamine. 5. It is concluded that NH3 and glutamine are essential for the stabilization and induction of glutaminase activity in hepatocytes. The inactivation of glutaminase in hepatocytes and in vivo under certain conditions may be due to lack of NH3 in the extracellular medium.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document