Pig Hepatocytes Research Articles

Feedback inhibition of bile acid synthesis in cultured pig hepatocytes

Bile acid synthesis by cultured pig hepatocytes, as measured by conversion of [14C]cholesterol to bile acids, increased during the second and third day of culture. This rise was inhibited after addition of various conjugated and unconjugated bile acids in a concentration of 100 microM. It could be completely prevented by cycloheximide, indicating that de novo protein synthesis is required for the increase in bile acid formation. No effect of exogenous bile salts on LDH release to the medium or on cellular ATP content was observed, demonstrating that hepatocyte viability was not affected. During the period in which bile acid synthesis was inhibited, pig hepatocytes were able to accumulate taurocholic acid (100 microM) up to 7-18 nmol per mg cell protein (decreasing during culture time). It is concluded that feedback regulation of bile acid synthesis is exerted by direct action of bile acids on the hepatocyte.

Hepatic uptake of asialoglycoprotein is different among mammalian species due to different receptor distribution

Isolated hepatocytes of rat, rabbit and guinea pig were found to take up and degrade 125I-labelled asialoorosomucoid at different rates with the rank order: rabbit > rat > guinea pig. Measurement of 125I-asialoorosomucoid binding at 4°C to these hepatocytes revealed that all these cells had two classes of receptors with a major difference occurring in the number of high-affinity binding sites. The average binding affinity constants ( K) and receptor concentration ( N) calculated from a least-square analysis of the Scatchard plots were K 1 = 1.5·10 9 M −1, K 2=0.93·10 7 M −7, N 1 = 0.049 pmol/mg cell protein and N 2 = 0.27 pmol/mg cell protein for the rat; K 2 = 3.16·10 7 M −1, N 1 = 0.027 pmol/mg cell protein and N 2 = 0.13 pmol/mg cell protein for the guinea pig and K 1 = 0.74·10 9 M −1, K 2 = 3.85·10 7 M −1, N 1 = 0.205 pmol/mg cell protein and N 2 = 0.37 pmol/mg cell protein or the rabbit hepatocytes, respectively. Measurement of the total number of cellular receptors after solubilizatio with Triton X-100 also revealed the same receptor concentration rank order of rabbit (5.8 pmol/mg cell protein) > rat (0.55 pmol/mg cell protein) > guinea pig (0.18 pmol/mg cell protein). Intravenous injection of 125I-asialoorosomucoid into anesthetized animals of matched body weight also indicated that the rate of plasma clearance and the rate of appearance of the degraded product of the tracer were different among these species with the same rank order as the observed with isolated hepatocytes. Thus there is a fundamental difference in the number of asialoglycoprotein receptors both on the cell surface and inside hepatocytes of these mammalian species.

Fatty acid effects on gluconeogenesis in goat, calf and guinea pig hepatocytes

1. 1. Regulation of hepatic gluconeogenesis by fatty acid was studied in goat, calf and guinea pig hepatocytes. 2. 2. Fatty acid effects on gluconeogenesis were dependent upon species; fatty acid and gluconeogenic substrate. 3. 3. Oleate and octanoate inhibited gluconeogenesis from propionate in guinea pig hepatocytes and stimulated it in goat hepatocytes. 4. 4. Oleate and octanoate markedly inhibited gluconeogenesis from lactate in guinea pig hepatocytes whereas octanoate, but not oleate, decreased glucose production from lactate in goat hepatocytes. 5. 5. Effects of fatty acids on gluconeogenesis in calf hepatocytes were similar to goat hepatocytes suggesting control of gluconeogenesis is similar among ruminant species but differs from guinea pigs.

Effect of apolipoprotein E-free high density lipoproteins on cholesterol metabolism in cultured pig hepatocytes.

We studied cholesterol synthesis from [14C]acetate, cholesterol esterification from [14C]oleate, and cellular cholesterol and cholesteryl ester levels after incubating cells with apoE-free high density lipoproteins (HDL) or low density lipoproteins (LDL). LDL suppressed synthesis by up to 60%, stimulated esterification by up to 280%, and increased cell cholesteryl ester content about 4-fold. Esterification increased within 2 h, but synthesis was not suppressed until after 6 h. ApoE-free HDL suppressed esterification by about 50% within 2 h. Cholesterol synthesis was changed very little within 6 h, unless esterification was maximally suppressed; synthesis was then stimulated about 4-fold. HDL lowered cellular unesterified cholesterol by 13-20% within 2 h and promoted the removal of newly synthesized cholesterol and cholesteryl esters. These changes were transient; by 24 h, both esterification and cellular unesterified cholesterol returned to control levels, and cholesteryl esters increased 2-3-fold. HDL core lipid was taken up selectively from 125I-labeled [3H]cholesteryl ester- and ether-labeled HDL. LDL core lipid uptake was proportional to LDL apoprotein uptake. The findings suggest that 1) the cells respond initially to HDL or LDL with changes in esterification, and 2) HDL mediates both the removal of free cholesterol from the cell and the delivery of HDL cholesteryl esters to the cell.

Detection of terminal N-linked N-acetylglucosamine residues in the Golgi apparatus using galactosyltransferase and endoglucosaminidase F/peptide N-glycosidase F: adaptation of a biochemical approach to electron microscopy.

Purified human milk beta-N-acetylglucosaminide beta 1, 4 galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.38) was used to galactosylate N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) residues present in ultra-thin sections of Lowicryl K4M-embedded rat and pig liver. Both endogenous galactose and galactosylated transferase products could be revealed by Ricinus communis lectin I-gold complexes (RcL I-g15). Without galactosyltransferase (GT) treatment, labeling for galactose (gal) was limited to the trans region of rat and pig hepatocyte Golgi apparatus. After exposure to GT, additional labeling was found over cis Golgi apparatus cisternae. RcL I-g15 labeling was sensitive to a purified preparation of endoglucosaminidase F/peptide N-glycosidase F (at pH 9). This indicates that endogenous gal and gal transferred by GT to terminal GlcNAc residues are present N-linked oligosaccharides. The RcL I-g15 labeling produced by GT was insensitive to extensive washing with solutions containing either EDTA and urea or SDS and 2-mercaptoethanol or 0.1 M GlcNAc. Substrate inhibition studies showed that 50 mM GlcNAc specifically inhibited the additional RcL I-g15 labeling produced by GT. The use of purified glycosyltransferases therefore appears to allow specific detection of oligosaccharide substrates and their high resolution localization in thin sections by electron microscopy.

Peroxisome Proliferation due to Di(2-Ethylhexyl) Phthalate (DEHP): Species Differences and Possible Mechanisms

The exposure of cultured rat hepatocytes to mono(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (MEHP) for 72 hr resulted in marked induction of peroxisomal enzyme activity (beta-oxidation; cyanide-insensitive palmitoyl CoA oxidase) and concomitant increases in the number of peroxisomes. Similar treatment of cultured guinea pig, marmoset, or human hepatocytes revealed little or no effect of MEHP. In order to eliminate possible confounding influences of biotransformation, the proximate peroxisome proliferator(s) derived from MEHP have been identified. Using cultured hepatocytes these agents were found to be metabolite VI [mono(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate] and metabolite IX [mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate]. The addition of these "active" metabolites to cultured guinea pig, marmoset, or human hepatocytes again revealed little effect upon peroxisomes or related enzyme activities (peroxisomal beta-oxidation or microsomal lauric acid hydroxylation). These studies demonstrate a marked species difference in the response of hepatocytes to MEHP-elicited peroxisome proliferation. Preliminary studies have also suggested that peroxisome proliferation due to MEHP may be due to an initial biochemical lesion of fatty acid metabolism.

Inhibition of CA V decreases glucose synthesis from pyruvate

The carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide reduces citrulline synthesis by intact guinea pig liver mitochondria and also inhibits mitochondrial carbonic anhydrase (CA V) and the more lipophilic carbonic anhydrase inhibitor ethoxzolamide reduces urea synthesis by intact guinea pig hepatocytes in parallel with its inhibition of total hepatocytic carbonic anhydrase activity. Intact hepatocytes from 48-h starved male guinea pig livers were incubated at 37 °C in Krebs-Henseleit with 95% O 2/5% CO 2 at pH 7.1 with 5 m m pyruvate, 5 m m lactate, 3 m m ornithine, 10 m m NH 4Cl, 1 m m oleate; with these inclusions both urea and glucose synthesis start with HCO 3 −-requiring enzymes, carbamyl phosphate synthetase I and pyruvate carboxylase, respectively. Urea and glucose synthesis were inhibited in parallel by increasing concentrations of ethoxzolamide, estimated K i for each approximately 0.1 m m. In other experiments hepatocytes were incubated at 37 °C in Krebs-Henseleit with 95% O 2/5% CO 2 at pH 7.1 with 10 m m glutamine, 1 m m oleate; with these inclusions glucose synthesis no longer starts with a HCO 3 −-requiring enzyme. Urea synthesis was inhibited by ethoxzolamide with an estimated K i of 0.1 m m, but glucose synthesis was unaffected. Intact mitochondria were prepared from 48-h starved male guinea pig livers. Pyruvate carboxylase activity of intact mitochondria was determined in isotonic KCl-Hepes buffer, pH 7.4, 25 °C, with 7.5 m m pyruvate, 3 m m ATP, and 10 m m NaHCO 3. Inclusion of ethoxzolamide resulted in reduction in the rate of pyruvate carboxylation in intact mitochondria, but not in disrupted mitochondria. It is concluded that carbonic anhydrase is functionally important for gluconeogenesis in the male guinea pig liver when there is a requirement for bicarbonate as substrate.

Liver alterations as a result of the 90-day continuous feeding of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

Chlorinated hydrocarbons are a highly toxic, ubiquitous class of environmental toxins of which 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is the most toxic. PCB pyrolysates contain a complex mixture of these chemicals and have been shown to produce extensive alterations in the liver of guinea pig hepatocytes, including proliferated smooth endoplasmic reticulum (SER), concentric membrane arrays (CMA) which are a condensation of proliferated SER, and cytoplasmic vacuoles. A mechanism of membrane excretion into the bile canaliculi and sinusoids has been proposed to account for these alterations and their relationship to each other. This report demonstrates the proposed mechanism for a purified compound (TCDD) fed continuously for 90 days and further elucidates the role of the cytoplasmic vacuoles which are observed for dose levels at which no other alteration is present.

Hepatic effects of phthalate esters and related compounds--in vivo and in vitro correlations.

The hepatic effects of phthalate esters and related compounds on peroxisomal and microsomal enzyme activities were investigated in the intact animal and in primary hepatocyte cultures. In vitro studies with a series of phthalate monoesters demonstrated structure activity differences in the induction of the specific peroxisomal marker KCN-insensitive palmitoyl-CoA oxidation and also of carnitine acetyltransferase. These effects could be reproduced in vivo, and potency differences were also observed between di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) and its straight-chain isomer, di-n-octyl phthalate. In in vivo studies, DEHP, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and clofibrate/clofibric acid produced large increases in liver size and peroxisomal enzyme activities in Sprague-Dawley rats and Chinese hamsters, but had less effect in Syrian hamsters. These effects could be largely reproduced in vitro where good responses were obtained with rat and Chinese hamster hepatocytes, but either little or no effect with Syrian hamster and Dunkin-Hartley guinea pig hepatocytes. Both DEHP and clofibrate appeared to induce similar form(s) of microsomal cytochrome P-450 which exhibited a high specificity towards lauric acid hydroxylation. With a range of hypolipidemic agents, including phthalate monoesters, a good correlation was observed between the induction of peroxisomal and microsomal enzyme activities in rat hepatocyte cultures. These results thus demonstrate a good relationship between the in vivo and in vitro effects of phthalate esters and related compounds and suggest that hepatocyte cultures may be useful for further studies on the hepatic effects of peroxisome proliferators.

Immunolocalization of the oligosaccharide trimming enzyme glucosidase II.

We used immunoelectron microscopy to localize glucosidase II in pig hepatocytes. The enzyme trims the two inner alpha 1,3-linked glucoses from N-linked oligosaccharide precursor chains of glycoproteins. Immunoreactive enzyme was concentrated in rough (RER) and smooth (SER) endoplasmic reticulum but not detectable in Golgi apparatus cisternae. Transitional elements of RER and smooth membraned structures close to Golgi apparatus cisternae contained labeling for glucosidase II. Specific labeling was also found in autophagosomes. These results indicate strongly that glucosidase II acts on glycoproteins before their transport to, and processing in Golgi apparatus cisternae, and suggest that an important transitional region for glucosidase II exists between RER and Golgi apparatus cisternae. Degradation in autophagolysosomes could form a normal catabolic pathway for glucosidase II.

Leiurus quinquestriatus venom inhibits different kinds of Ca 2+-dependent K + channels

A minor protein component of Leiurus quinquestriatus venom has been reported to inhibit selectively the apamin-insensitive Ca 2+-dependent K + channels of mammalian skeletal muscle (Miller, C., Moczydlowski, E., Latorre, R. and Phillips, M. (1985) Nature 313, 316–318). We report the effect of the venom on both the apamin-insensitive channels of the human erythrocyte, the Ehrlich cell and the rat thymocyte and the apamin-sensitive channel of the guinea pig hepatocyte. The venom inhibited Ca 2+-dependent K + transport in all the cases with a K i value within the range of 1 to 10 μg/ml, similar to that reported previously in muscle. Valinomycin-induced K + transport was also antagonized by the venom but its sensitivity was about 1 10 as much as that of the Ca 2+-dependent K + channel.

Carbonic anhydrase: inhibition results in decreased urea production by hepatocytes.

The amount of urea produced in 60 min, [urea]t = 60, from intact guinea pig hepatocytes incubated in NH4Cl, oleate, lactate, NaHCO3, and ornithine at 37 degrees C at pH 7.1 is decreased by ethoxzolamide (EZ): Ki,EZ [urea]t = 60 +/- SD at 37 degrees C, pH 7.1 is 0.14 +/- 0.11 mM (10 Dixon plots). This value is in the same range as Ki,EZ for carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity of disrupted hepatocytes at 37 degrees C: 0.08 +/- 0.06 mM (2). [Urea]t = 60 is pH dependent whether external CO2 is supplied (25 mM HCO-3, 95% O2-5% CO2 and 5 mM HCO-3, 99% O2-1% CO2) or not [20 mM N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N'-2-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), 100% O2]. Ki,EZ [urea]t = 60 is independent of both external pH and external total CO2. Ki,EZ (CA) of disrupted mitochondria at 37 degrees C is 0.033 +/- 0.013 microM (2). This value was approximately 3,000-fold lower than the Ki,EZ [urea]t = 60 for intact hepatocytes or Ki,EZ (CA) for disrupted hepatocytes. These results support the general hypothesis that mitochondrial CA is involved in urea synthesis by intact hepatocytes and that cytosolic components raise the experimentally determined Ki,EZ [urea]t = 60. We also conclude that the value of Ki,EZ [urea]t = 60 is independent of the availability of the substrate HCO-3 from external sources.

A saturable receptor for 32P-inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate in hepatocytes and neutrophils.

Several receptors for neurotransmitters, hormones and growth factors cause accelerated phosphodiesteratic breakdown of polyphosphoinositides when activated. One of the soluble products of this reaction, inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate (Ins(1,4,5)P3) is thought to act as a second messenger signalling the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores. In support of this hypothesis, several studies have shown that Ins(1,4,5)P3 releases sequestered Ca2+ from permeable cells and microsomes. On the basis of certain structural requirements for Ca2+-releasing activity by inositol phosphates, it has been postulated that Ins(1,4,5)P3 acts by binding to a specific intracellular receptor, probably on a component of the endoplasmic reticulum. Here we report that 32P-Ins(1,4,5)P3 binds to a specific saturable site in permeabilized guinea pig hepatocytes and rabbit neutrophils, and that the properties of this binding site suggest that it is the physiological receptor for Ins(1,4,5)P3.

Expression of Ia-antigens on guinea pig Kupffer cells: Studies with monoclonal antibodies

The expression of the Ia-antigen on guinea pig Kupffer cells was studied employing two monoclonal antibodies against two different determinants of the Ia-molecule. The study was performed in situ on liver sections and on isolated highly purified Kupffer cells kept in culture up to 6 days. The influence of guinea pig hepatocyte culture supernatant and of supernatants of phytohemoagglutinin (PHA)-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) on the Ia expression was measured. Immunofluorescence staining of cryostat sections revealed that the monoclonal antibodies used are able to detect Ia-antigens on liver macrophages in situ. The in vitro studies strongly suggest that all Kupffer cells are able to express Ia-antigens. The expression of Ia-antigens on Kupffer cells decreased during the culture time and was no longer detectable on day 5. At this time, incubation of the cell cultures with PBL conditioned medium induced the reexpression of Ia-antigens. Supernatants from guinea-pig hepatocyte cultures did not have any negative influence on the expression of the Ia-antigen on Kupffer cells in vitro. These data support the hypothesis that liver macrophages have the potential to behave immunologically as accessory cells and might contribute to local immune responses in acute as well as chronic states of liver diseases.

Biosynthesis of the subcomponents C1q, C1r and C1s of the first component of complement (C1) by guinea pig hepatocyte primary cultures.

Thus far, the synthesis of C1q by liver cells has not been demonstrated. To investigate this possibility, viable hepatocytes were isolated from the liver of guinea pigs and primary cultures were established. The cells (10(6) cells/ml) were cultured under serum-free conditions for 8 days and the culture medium was changed every 24 h. The few contaminating Kupffer cells were lysed by preincubating the cell cultures with a monoclonal (22C4-8) antibody directed against a nonpolymorphic Ia determinant and preabsorbed rabbit serum. The hemolytic activity of C1 and its subcomponents C1q and C1r/C1s was tested in the supernatants. Guinea pig hepatocyte primary cultures synthesize and secrete up to 3 X 10(3) effective C1q molecules/cell/24 h and 34 X 10(3) effective C1r/C1s molecules/cell/24 h. The synthesis of C1q and C1r/C1s could be reversibly inhibited by cycloheximide (50 micrograms/ml). Furthermore, to demonstrate de novo synthesis of the C1q subcomponent, endogeneous labeling with 3H-proline (or 14C-proline) was performed. The immunoprecipitated C1q from cellular lysates and culture medium was analyzed by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and fluorography. Compared to biosynthetically labeled guinea pig C1q from peritoneal macrophages, three corresponding bands (30, 28 and 24 kDa, respectively) were detectable in the fluorograph. The data show that guinea pig hepatocytes are able to synthesize C1 subcomponents, whereby the synthesis of C1q and C1r/C1s occurs independently.

Biosynthesis of the Third (C3), Eighth (C8), and Ninth (C9) Complement Components by Guinea Pig Hepatocyte Primary Cultures

In the present report guinea pig hepatocyte primary cultures were established in order to study the synthesis of the eighth (C8) and ninth (C9) complement component. As reference- protein, the third complement component (C3) was measured antigenetically and hemolyti- cally. Synthesis of C8 and C9 was determined by means of the hemolytic activity of the culture supernatant harvested every 24 h during a 6-day incubation period in vitro. The data to be reported demonstrate that the hepatocytes are able to synthesize spontaneously and secrete C8 and C9; in their culture medium a hemolytic activity of about 15–25 × 10 8 em/10 6 cells/24 h for C8 and of 25–90 × 108 em/10 6 cells/24 h for C9 were found. The same hepatocyte cultures produced 2500–6000 μg/10 6 cells/24 h of C3. Hemolytic C3 activity was also found in the culture media. The synthesis of C8 and C9 could be reversibly inhibited by addition of 30–50 μg cycloheximide per ml of culture medium. The kinetics of synthesis show a slight decrease after the first day of culture and a recovery in the following days up to a rate that is two- to threefold higher than that of the first day. The data suggest that hepatocytes could contribute to the production of C8 and C9 present in the plasma.

Metabolic activation of N-acetylbenzidine and N, N′-diacetylbenzidine to mutagens, using isolated hepatocytes and the 9000 × g liver supernatant from rat, hamster and guinea pig

The metabolic activation of MABZ and DABZ, forming products mutagenic towards Salmonella typhimurium TA1538, was studied with isolated hepatocytes from rat, hamster and guinea pig and the S9 fraction (9000 × g supernatant) prepared from these hepatocytes. Special attention was given to the influence of acetyl-CoA, the cofactor for N-acetylation, on the mutagenicity of these arylamides. The rat and guinea pig S9 preparation activated MABZ as well as DABZ to a much higher degree than the intact hepatocytes of these animal species. Addition of acetyl-CoA to the S9 preparation decreased the mutagenicity of MABZ and DABZ. On the contrary, for the hamster the mutagenicity of MABZ and DABZ appeared to be lower with the S9 preparation than with intact hepatocytes. Addition of acetyl-CoA to the S9 here increased the mutagenic activity of these arylamides. In the presence of intact hepatocytes obvious interspecies differences were observed in the activation of MABZ and DABZ. DABZ was far more effectively activated by hamster hepatocytes than by rat hepatocytes. This was not found with MABZ. Both substrates were poorly activated by guinea pig hepatocytes.

Application of a new method of antibody-enzyme conjugation with maleimide derivative for immunohistochemistry: hepatocellular production, interstitial tissue distribution, and renal cell reabsorption of plasma albumin in guinea pig.

A new sophisticated method for enzyme-antibody conjugation developed in quantitative solid-phase enzyme immunoassay was revealed to be an applicable method for immunohistochemistry; one that offered several advantages over present methods. Using a new maleimide derivative as a coupling reagent, monomeric conjugate of horseradish peroxidase and Fab' antibody was easily prepared with high efficiency and reproducibility. Nonspecific staining was greatly reduced in the presence of this monomeric conjugate. Since the enzyme activity and antigen-binding activity were well preserved in the conjugate, the reaction was strong enough to analyze the antigen localization in intracellular organelles or in interstitial tissue space by both light and electron microscopy. The fate of plasma albumin was investigated in liver, skin, and kidney using the new method with rabbit anti-guinea pig albumin antibody, and satisfactory results were obtained. In the liver, the reaction products were observed in the rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus in hepatocytes, which confirmed the synthesis of plasma albumin in hepatocytes of guinea pig. In a study of the distribution of albumin, reaction products were seen in the intercellular space of the epidermis, along the basement membranes of epidermis and of proximal convoluted tubules in kidney, and among the collagen fibers in interstitial tissue, particularly at papillary dermis, suggesting the wide distribution of plasma albumin in interstitial extravascular tissue spaces. In addition, positive reaction was obtained in the apical vesicles and the lysosomes of the proximal convoluted tubules and in the pinocytotic vesicles of the basal cells of epidermis, suggesting the reabsorption and destruction of albumin in the kidney and the skin.

Identification of the proximate peroxisome proliferator(s) derived from Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate

A primary rat hepatocyte culture system was utilized to determine the proximate peroxisome proliferator(s) derived from di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). DEHP was administered to rats and the urinary metabolites were identified and isolated. The major metabolites were those resulting from initial ω- or ω — 1-carbon oxidation of the mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) moiety. These metabolites, together with MEHP and 2-ethylhexanol, were added to primary rat hepatocyte cultures and the effect on peroxisomal enzyme activity was determined. The ω-carbon oxidation products [mono(3-carboxy-2-ethylpropyl) phthalate (I) and mono(5-carboxy-2-ethylpentyl) phthalate (V)] and 2-ethylhexanol produced little or no effect on CN −-insensitive palmitoyl-CoA oxidation (a peroxisomal marker). MEHP and the ω — 1-carbon oxidation products [mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexy) phthalate (VI) and mono(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (IX)] produced a large (7-to 11-fold) induction of peroxisomal enzyme activity. Similar structure-activity relationships were observed for the induction of cytochrome P-450-mediated lauric acid hydroxylase and increase in cellular coenzyme A content. This identification of the proximate proliferators will aid in the elucidation of the mechanism by which DEHP causes proliferation of peroxisomes in the rodent liver. Oral administration of MEHP (150 or 250 mg/kg) to male guinea pigs did not produce hepatic peroxisome proliferation. Addition of MEHP (0 to 0.5 m m) or one of the “active” proliferators in the rat (metabolite IX, 0 to 0.5 m m) to primary guinea pig hepatocyte cultures also failed to produce an induction of peroxisomal β-oxidation. Possible reasons for this species difference are discussed.

Reversible high affinity uptake of apo E-free high density lipoproteins in cultured pig hepatocytes.

We examined the high affinity binding, uptake, and degradation of apo E-free 125I-high density lipoprotein (HDL) in cultured pig hepatocytes. At steady state, the cells degraded 9.4% of cell-associated 125I-HDL/hour, compared with 41.7%/hour for 125I-LDL. Pulse-chase experiments at 4 degrees C revealed that high affinity 125I-HDL binding was reversible. Similar experiments at 37 degrees C revealed that about 70% of the cell-associated 125I-HDL was released as a macromolecule; the remainder was degraded to acid-soluble products. In contrast, over 75% of the 125I-LDL that was released had been degraded to acid soluble products. The amount of macromolecular 125I-HDL released at 37 degrees C was similar to the amount that was bound to the cell surface, as estimated from measurements of trypsin-releasable radioactivity. Density gradient ultracentrifugation and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis of macromolecular 125I-HDL released to the medium revealed an increase in density, and the apparent partial proteolysis of apo A-I (Mr 25,000) to products of apparent Mr 12,000-14,000. The findings suggest that high affinity 125I-HDL uptake had a reversible component in which HDL was concentrated temporarily at the cell surface, modified, and then released as a somewhat denser lipoprotein particle. Measurement of 125I-HDL and 125I-LDL degradation in cell homogenates revealed no difference in the inherent susceptibility of the two lipoproteins to proteolysis by lysosomal enzymes. The overall slower rate of degradation of 125I-HDL compared to 125I-LDL was therefore due in part to the smaller fraction of HDL that was committed to irreversible catabolism. The rate of catabolism of this fraction, however, was considerable. Cells pulsed at 4 degrees C and subsequently warmed to 37 degrees C released one-half the acid-soluble products from 125I-HDL within about 4 hours, compared with 2 hours for cells pulsed with 125I-LDL. These findings indicate that HDL was internalized, transported to lysosomes, and degraded at about one-half the rate of LDL.