A fetal rat hepatocyte culture system has been used to study the molecular mechanisms of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) gene expression during development. It has previously been shown that TAT activity can be detected in 19-d, but not 15-d, gestation hepatocytes on the first day of culture (Yeoh, G. C. T., F. A. Bennett, and I. T. Oliver. 1979. Biochem. J. 180:153-160). In this study enzyme activity, synthesis, and mRNA levels were determined in hepatocytes isolated from 13-, 15-, and 19-d gestation rats maintained in culture for 1, 2, or 3 d and exposed to dexamethasone. TAT expression is barely detectable in 13-d gestation hepatocytes even after 3 d in culture. Hepatocytes isolated from 15-d gestation fetuses have undetectable levels of enzyme activity and synthesis on the first day of culture; both can be assayed by days 2 and 3. TAT mRNA levels in these hepatocytes, measured by hybridization with a specific cDNA, increase substantially during culture. TAT activity, synthesis, and mRNA are evident on the first and subsequent days of culture in 19-d gestation hepatocytes. Transcription measurements in isolated nuclei indicate that the increase in TAT mRNA in 15- and 19-d gestation hepatocytes is associated with an increase in transcription of the gene. Immunocytochemical studies demonstrated that the increase in TAT expression correlated with an increase in the proportion of hepatocytes expressing the enzyme, rather than a simultaneous increase in all hepatocytes. These results support the proposal that a subpopulation of 15-d fetal hepatocytes undergo differentiation in culture with respect to TAT.
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
1 December 1989
Article|
December 01 1989
Hepatocyte differentiation in vitro: initiation of tyrosine aminotransferase expression in cultured fetal rat hepatocytes.
L L Shelly,
L L Shelly
Department of Physiology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
Search for other works by this author on:
W Tynan,
W Tynan
Department of Physiology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
Search for other works by this author on:
W Schmid,
W Schmid
Department of Physiology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
Search for other works by this author on:
G Schütz,
G Schütz
Department of Physiology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
Search for other works by this author on:
G C Yeoh
G C Yeoh
Department of Physiology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
Search for other works by this author on:
L L Shelly
Department of Physiology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
W Tynan
Department of Physiology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
W Schmid
Department of Physiology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
G Schütz
Department of Physiology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
G C Yeoh
Department of Physiology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands.
Online ISSN: 1540-8140
Print ISSN: 0021-9525
J Cell Biol (1989) 109 (6): 3403–3410.
Citation
L L Shelly, W Tynan, W Schmid, G Schütz, G C Yeoh; Hepatocyte differentiation in vitro: initiation of tyrosine aminotransferase expression in cultured fetal rat hepatocytes.. J Cell Biol 1 December 1989; 109 (6): 3403–3410. doi: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.109.6.3403
Download citation file:
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Could not validate captcha. Please try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionSuggested Content
Email alerts
Advertisement
Advertisement