Fibrinolytic activity of adult rat liver cells in primary culture and inhibition of glucocorticoids

Abstract

Summary Adult rat liver cells, maintained in primary culture in a non-proliferating state, have been observed to flatten and spread-out during the first 3 days in culture. A fibrin-agar overlay technique and the digestion of 125 I-fibrin films have been used to show the potent fibrinolytic activity of liver cells in primary culture. Microscopic observation of liver cells under fibrin-agar overlays demonstrated the potent fibrinolytic activity of individual flattened liver cells. Both the fibrinolytic activity and the flattening of the liver cells are inhibited by dexamethasone and to a lesser degree by hydrocortisone. Fibrin digestion per se is unaffected by dexamethasone supplementation.