Cytotoxicity of galactose, tyrosine and methionine in cultured suckling rat hepatocytes: relation to liver immaturity.
Monolayers of suckling rat hepatocytes cultured for 24 hours were treated with galactose, I-tyrosine and I-methionine. The purpose was to study the reasons for the clinical improvement of patients with neonatal hepatitis after dietary restriction of these nutrients. Galactose, tyrosine, and methionine was cytotoxic on suckling rat hepatocytes, yet had no effect on adult rat hepatocytes. Furthermore, the pretreatment of suckling rat hepatocytes with dexamethasone ameliorated the cytotoxicity and induced a differentiation of the cells. These results suggested that the cytotoxicity resulted from the immaturity of suckling rat hepatocytes and therefore dietary restriction of galactose, tyrosine and methionine might be a useful treatment for patients with neonatal hepatitis.
Okayasu
T
T
Department of Child Health, Hokkaido University of Education, Sapporo, Japan.
Nagano
S
S
Takada
K
K
Tomita
M
M
Arashima
S
S
Matsumoto
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005690:Galactose / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008715:Methionine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014443:Tyrosine; D008715:Methionine; D005690:Galactose