title: Distribution of the surface antigen HAM-4 and cytoskeleton during reformation of bile-canalicular structures in rat primary cultured hepatocytes.
abstract: The distribution of rat bile-canalicular surface antigen (HAM-4 antigen) and cytoskeletal elements (microtubules, actin filaments, and cytokeratin filaments) was examined during the reformation of bile-canalicular structures (BC-structures) in primary cultures of dissociated hepatocytes obtained following collagenase perfusion. HAM-4 antigen, which initially dispersed after cell dissociation, became focused into regions of cell-to-cell contact even before formation of BC-structures. Typical bile-canalicular microvilli also appeared in these regions before the intercellular spaces were completely closed. Finally, after in vitro reformation of BC, HAM-4 antigen was localized specifically at the BC-surface. The process of BC-reformation and the intracellular organization of actin and cytokeratin filaments were not significantly affected by microtubule inhibitors (nocodazole, colcemid, and colchicine). However, the localization of HAM-4 antigen molecules at the surface of BC was disrupted by these inhibitors, suggesting that the distribution of HAM-4 antigen, which represents a marker for the reconstruction of surface polarity, is dependent on microtubule function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sawada
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Itai
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fujikura
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kuniki
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tamechika
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukumoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000954:Antigens, Surface / Q000032:analysis*; D001648:Bile Canaliculi / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000276:immunology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen / Q000032:analysis*; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins
chemical_list: D000954:Antigens, Surface; D011975:Receptors, Mitogen; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; C027503:wheat germ agglutinin receptor