title: Effects of maternal nutrient restriction, intrauterine growth restriction, and glucocorticoid exposure on phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-1 expression in fetal baboon hepatocytes in vitro.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to develop a cell culture system for fetal baboon hepatocytes and to test the hypotheses that (i) expression of the gluconeogenic enzyme phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase-1 (PEPCK-1) is upregulated in hepatocytes isolated from fetuses of nutrient-restricted mothers (MNR) compared with ad libitum-fed controls (CTR), and (ii) glucocorticoids stimulate PEPCK-1 expression.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hepatocytes from 0.9G CTR and MNR fetuses were isolated and cultured. PEPCK-1 protein and mRNA levels in hepatocytes were determined by Western blot and quantitative PCR, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fetuses of MNR mothers were intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR). Feasibility of culturing 0.9G fetal baboon hepatocytes was demonstrated. PEPCK-1 protein levels were increased in hepatocytes isolated from IUGR fetuses, and PEPCK-1 mRNA expression was stimulated by glucocorticoids in fetal hepatocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cultured fetal baboon hepatocytes that retain their in vivo phenotype provide powerful in vitro tools to investigate mechanisms that regulate normal and programmed hepatic function.
authors.affiliation: Center for Pregnancy and Newborn Research, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Cun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhen-Ju
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.forename: Shuko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Madhulika B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jansson
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Nathanielsz
authors.forename: Amrita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamat
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005317:Fetal Growth Retardation / Q000201:enzymology*; D005508:Food Deprivation; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000201:enzymology*; D008099:Liver / Q000196:embryology / Q000201:enzymology; D008297:Male; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D010215:Papio / Q000196:embryology*; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP) / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D003907:Dexamethasone; D010729:Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxykinase (GTP)
keywords: dexamethasone; diabetes non-human primate; liver