Modulation of fetal and neonatal rat hepatocyte functional activity by glucocorticoids in co-culture.
Fetal and neonatal rat hepatocytes were cultured alone or in association with another liver epithelial cell type, in a medium with or without hydrocortisone. Secretion of albumin and alpha-fetoprotein decreased in pure hepatocyte culture, whereas in co-culture it remained stable for several days. Furthermore, addition of hydrocortisone to the co-culture medium induced a rapid increase in albumin production which was maintained at a high level. In contrast, alpha-fetoprotein production was inhibited. At the same time, an abundant extracellular material was secreted between and around hepatocyte colonies. The results demonstrate that the reciprocal relation between albumin and alpha-fetoprotein production which occurs during in vivo perinatal hepatocyte maturation is also observed in vitro. Both cell-cell contacts and glucocorticoids play a key role in this process. It appears that fetal and neonatal hepatocytes can maturate when maintained in a co-culture system.
Lescoat
G
G
Theze
N
N
Clement
B
B
Guillouzo
A
A
Guguen-Guillouzo
C
C
D000418:Albumins / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D004261:DNA Replication / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005333:Fetus; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
D000418:Albumins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D006854:Hydrocortisone