title: Relationship between somatostatin receptors and activation of hepatic stellate cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Somafostatin receptors (SSTRs) have been suggested to involve in mediating the effect of somatostatin on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in an activation-dependent way. We, therefore, try to investigate the relationship between expression of SSTRs and activation of rat HSCs.
  
  
  METHODS
  HSCs were isolated from rats by in situ perfusion and single-step density gradient centrifugation. SSTR1-5 mRNA levels in the differentiated first passage HSCs were detected by means of a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. On the other hand, hepatic fibrosis was induced in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by carbon tetrachloride intoxication, and the expression of SSTR1-5 in normal as well as fibrotic livers was measured by immunohistochemical staining.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SSTR mRNA and SSTR could not be found in freshly isolated rat HSCs or normal rat liver. However, SSTR1-3 mRNA appeared as HSCs became wholly activated, and could also be identified on the membrane of activated HSCs in the perisinusoid space, fibrous septa, etc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The expression of SSTR1-3 in the rat HSC is closely related to its activation. This may reflect one of the main negative regulation mechanisms in the course of HSC activation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200092, China. fangchunhua@online.sh.cn
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Ding-Guo
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Han-Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Liang-Yong
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Han-Ning
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Qin-Fang
authors.initials: QF
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017481:Receptors, Somatostatin