[Effects of ethanol on the function of cultured hepatocytes].
OBJECTIVE
To develop a novel culture system to investigate the effects of ethanol on the function of cultured hepatocytes.


METHODS
Sandwich configuration was used to culture hepatocytes and the effects of ethanol on functions of bile excretion and protein synthesis as well as the morphology of cultured hepatocytes were observed.


RESULTS
Bile canaliculi-like structures decreased and anastomatic networks disappeared in ethanol treated hepatocytes. The ability for hepatocytes to internalize, metabolize and excrete compounds into bile was indicated by FDA metabolizing in the hepatocytes. In hepatocytes without ethanol, the bile excretion was showed clearly, but in ethanol-interfered hepatocytes, no bile excretion was observed. After ethanol was given, the level of protein secretion decreased and with the time going, it became lower and lower.


CONCLUSIONS
Hepatocytes can be seriously damaged by ethanol. The study provides a new model to investigate the mechanism of some liver diseases caused by ethanol.
Zhang
Xian-jie
XJ
Department of General surgery, Tiantan Hospital, Capital University of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100050, China.
Sun
Jia-bang
JB
Song
Mao-min
MM
Yuan
Hui-sheng
HS
Chen
Yu
Y
Duan
Zhong-ping
ZP
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D000431:Ethanol