Original Articles

Effect of epidermal growth factor on cultured rat hepatocytes poisoned by CCl4

Bin Wu, Chong-Wen Wang, Jua-Rui Xu, Jub-Quan Zhu

Abstract

AIM: To study the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on CCl4-induced
primary cultured hepatocytes injury.
METHODS: Alanine amino-transferase (AlaAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT)
activities and K+ concentractions were determined by the Auto-biochemistry Assay
System. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined by thiobarbituric acid method.
Radioactivity was determined by liquid scintillometry. Light microscopy and
electron microscopy were used.
RESULTS: EGF 40 micrograms.L-1 decreased CCl4 (10 mmol.L-1)-induced damages of
rat primary cultured hepatocytes by decreasing AlaAT and AspAT leakage and MDA
production, and promoted RNA and DNA synthesis, with a high positive correlation
between intracellular K+ leakage and DNA syntheses (r = 0.99, P < 0.01).
Cytopathological study showed that EGF decreased damage of liver cells.
CONCLUSION: EGF maintains the stability of cellular lipid membrane and promotes
syntheses of RNA and DNA of hepatocytes, and intracellular K+ transference is a
promotor of the message transmission of DNA synthesis.
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