Retinoic Acid Inhibits DNA and Albumin Synthesis Stimulated by Growth Factor in Adult Rat Hepatocytes in Primary Culture

Abstract

Retinoic acid inhibits proliferation as a result of inducing differentiation in various cells. Isolated hepatocytes have quiescent cell function and seldom proliferate in culture. It is of interest whether such function changes in proliferation induced by growth factors and the proliferation is inhibited by retinoic acid. In adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture, retinoic acid reduced DNA synthesis stimulated by epidermal growth factor or hepatocyte growth factor in a dose-related manner. Albumin synthesis was increased with EGF stimulation. Retinoic acid attenuated this increase, but affected neither albumin synthesis in the absence of EGF nor EGF binding to the cells. Adult rat hepatocytes in primary culture may proliferate with quiescent cell function. Retinoic acid inhibits such proliferation and cell function.