Restricted specialization of differentiating hepatocytes in terms of albumin and alpha-fetoprotein production.
Hepatocytes were isolated from 1-day and 1,2,3 and 12-week old rat livers by collagenase perfusion and the relative numbers of albumin (ALB) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) producers were evaluated using the reverse hemolytic plaque assay. The percentage of ALB producers remained essentially constant to 35% over the 12-week period. In contrast, the percentage of AFP producers varied from 19% at 1 day up to 28% at 1 week and then down to 0.1% at 3 weeks. Moreover, a double identification of secreting hepatocytes, using an adaptation of the plaque assay, demonstrated that AFP producing hepatocytes were also ALB producers. These results are explained in terms of a restricted specialization of differentiating hepatocytes during normal development.
D000418:Albumins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D000418:Albumins; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins