title: Effect of epidermal growth factor on cultured adult rat hepatocytes.
abstract: When adult rat hepatocytes were cultured in plastic Petri dishes in a medium containing insulin and glucagon, supplementation with epidermal growth factor (EGF) had a pronounced effect on their viability, morphology, and biochemical integrity. Transmission and scanning electron microscopic studies showed that after 1 week cells denied EGF accumulated numerous non-electron-dense bodies and filamentous whorls, had irregular nuclei, and exhibited atypical cell surfaces. In contrast, cells grown for 2-3 weeks in the presence of EGF had well-preserved cellular organelles and remained as an epithelial-like monolayer. After 3 weeks EGF-exposed cultures were still inducible for liver-specific tyrosine aminotransferase, and both rat albumin and rat transferrin were recoverable from the culture medium. Virtually no viable cells were present at 3 weeks in EGF-deprived cultures.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D014168:Transferrin / Q000032:analysis; D014444:Tyrosine Transaminase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D012709:Serum Albumin; D014168:Transferrin; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D014444:Tyrosine Transaminase