• Applied Microscopy
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.78-85
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• 1994

Sodium arsenite ($NaAsO_2$) was injected to the rat subcutaneously for the study of the acute toxicity of arsenite on hepatocytes, and the effects of pretreatment of arsenite and glutathione on the lethalty of the arsenite treated rats. Arsenite treated rat hepatocytes showed vacuolated cytosol and shrinked nuclear and expanded perinuclear space and cytoplasmic membrane whirl. Rats pretreated with BSO (L-Buthionine-SR-Sulfoximine), less survived than arsenite treated alone. It means that glutathione acts as a protecting agent against the arsenite. Subcutaneous sublethal dose (10mg/kg body weight) treatment was showed the protecting activity to lethality of lethal dose (15mg/kg body weight) treated rat. 10mg/kg body weight sublethal dose effects appeared in six hours intervals of between treatments.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.56-61
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• 2008

The hepatoprotective effects of the water extracts of Hovenia dulcis Thunb (HD) were investigated in vitro. Following the induction of hepatotoxicity by ethanol in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes, the protective effects of four different water extracts of HD were determined through serial dose-response and time-dependent studies. The individual extracts used in these studies were prepared from fruits, seeds, leaves and tubes. Treatment of hepatocyte cultures with the water extracts of HD provided a significant protection from the increased lactate dehydrogenase activity induced by ethanol. Particularly, the fruits extract was the most effective against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity in the primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. The results demonstrated that the extracts might have the protective effect against ethanol-induced toxicity in hepatocyte cultures.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.271-277
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• 1992

Rat hepatocytes were isolated by collagenase perfusion method and cultured on the collagen coated dish or on the floating collagen membrane. Using the primary cu1tured hepatocytes, the efficiency of cell attachment and the hepatic functions such as gluconeogenesis, ureogenesis and albumin synthesis were studied. The cell viability was kept above 50% until 5 days and the hepatic functions of ammonia metabolism and albumin synthesis were maintained until 7 days. Floating collagen membrane was found to be more efficient than the collagen coated dish for the maintenance of hepatic function in-vitro.

• Biotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering:BBE
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.96-102
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• 1998

Primary hepatocytes of small animals such as rat and rabbit were often used for the study of extracorporeal liver support systems. Freshly isolated rat hepatocytes form spheroids within tow days when cultivated as suspension in spinner vessels. These spheroids showed enhanced liver specific functions and more differentiated morphology compared to hepatocytes cultured as monolayers However, shear stress caused by continuous agitation deteriorated spheroids gradually. In this work we immobilized spheroids to prolong liver specific activities. First, hepatocyte spheroids were suspended in collagen solution containing calcium chloride and then dropped into alginate solution. A thin layer of calcium alginate was formed around the droplet and then was removed after the inner collagen was gelled by treatment of sodium citrate buffer. Spheroids embedded in collagen-gel bead maintained liver specific functions such as albumin secretion rate longer than hepatocyte spheroids exposed to shear stress. Therefore, we suggest that this immobilization technique may offer an effective long-term hepatocyte cultivation and facilitase the development of a bioartificial liver support device.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.89-93
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• 1999

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin(TCDD) is known to induce cytochrome p450 1A1 and to activate c-Src kinase and p21 Ras. This study examined the molecular interactions of adaptor proteins including Shc, Grb2, and Sos in rat primary hepatocytes and their relationship to the induction of CYP1A1 by TCDD. TCDD induced CYP1A1 level and EROD activity in a dose-dependent mode. Sos/Grb2 association isincreased by TCDDㅑㅜ a dose dependent mode. Tyrosine phosphorylated Shc, mainly p152, onloads to Grb2/Sos complex upon TCDD stimulation. The electrophoretic mobility shift of Sos is showed by TCDD. These results indicate that TCDD modulated the molecular interaction features of adaptor compoes proteins including Shc, Grb2, and Cnl in early signaling pathway of TCDD-mediated CYP 1A1 induction of rat primary hepatocyte.

• Food Science and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.102-107
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• 2005

In this study, the ameliorating effect of soybean embryos on the impact of alcohol consumption was investigated on rat hepatocytes and in reducing total serum cholesterol levels and total serum lipid levels. Liver histology and two clinically important enzyme markers, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), of rats administered with both alcohol and soybean embryo were compared with a control group. The treatment regimen of soybean embryo significantly reduced the serum ALT and AST levels of the subjects, demonstrating the hepato-protective effects of soybean embryo. Electron microscopy indicated that the administration of soybean embryo preserved the important hepatocyte structures and prevented the presence of lipid droplets and secondary lysosomes. Furthermore, total cholesterol and total lipid levels were significantly reduced. These results indicate that treatment with soybean embryo can positively mediate the effects of alcohol on hepatocytes and general liver functions.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.167-175
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• 1993

Protective effects of dithiol malonate derivatives (DMDs), YH-100, YH-150 and YH-439 on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatotoxicity were investigated in primary rat hepatocytes culture. Treatment of DMDs to hepatocytes culture did not affect total cytochrome P-450 content and ECOD and AHH activities. Protein and RNA synthesis was also similar to control. Meanwhile, DMDs significantly decreased LDH release and in vitro lipid peroxidation induced by $CCI_4$. Accumulation of cellular triglyceride and decreased secretion of VLDL from liver cells by $CCI_4$ treatment were also significantly protected.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.397-415
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• 2002

This paper deals with a crucial mechanism for interaction of basic drugs and cardiac glycosides at the hepatic uptake level. Available literature data is provided and new material is presented to picture the differential transport inhibition of bulky (type2) cationic drugs by a number of cardiac glycosides in rat liver. It is shown that the so called organic anion transporting peptide 2 (oatp2) is the likely interaction site: differential inhibition patterns as observed in oocytes expressing oatp2, could be clearly identified also in isolated rat hepatocytes, isolated perfused rat liver and the rat in vivo. The anticipation of transport interactions at the hepatic clearance level should be based on data on the relative affinities of interacting substrates for the transport systems involved along with knowledge on the pharmacokinetics of these agents as well as the chosen dose regimen in the studied species. This review highlights the importance of multispecific tranporter systems such as OATP, accommodating a broad spectrum of organic compounds of various charge, implying potential transport interactions that can affect body distribution and organ clearance.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.45-52
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• 2006

The methanol extracts of the roots, root bark and stem of Berberis tinctoria, were investigated for their hepatoprotective activity against carbon tetrachloride $(CCl_4)$ induced toxicity in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes, HEp-G2 cells and animal models. The methanol extracts were able to significantly normalise the levels of aspartate amino transferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, triglycerides, total proteins, albumin, total bilirubin and direct bilirubin, which were altered due to $CCl_4$ intoxication in freshly isolated rat hepatocytes and also in animal models. The anti-hepatotoxic effect of the methanol extracts in vitro were observed at $600\;-\;1,000\;{\mu}g/ml$ concentrations. A dose dependent increase in the percentage viability was observed when $CCl_4$ exposed HEp-G2 cells were treated with different concentrations of the methanol extracts. The highest percentage viability of HEp-G2 was observed at a concentration of $1,000\;{\mu}g/ml$. The results from the present investigations also indicate good correlation between the in vivo and in vitro studies.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.307-313
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• 2001

Iron excess is known to affect long-term iron accumulation and tissue change such as fibrosis in liver. To determine the changes of expression level of genes associated with fibrosis by short-term iron exposure, we measured liver mRNA levels by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in rats fed dietary carbonyl iron (3%, wt/wt) for 9 weeks. The results showed that the expression of the collagen (I, III) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-$\beta$I mRNAs was enhanced in high-dose iron treated rat, compared to normal-dose iron treated rat. An electron microscopy study revealed that excess iron caused increase of collagen fibrils in liver. The cell shapes and compositions of hepatocytes and extracellular matrix(ECM) in liver were changed by the iron-treatment. Also, necrosised hepatocytes were broadly seen in ECM. Taken together, we suggest that iron overload affects changes of collagen and TGF-$\beta$I gene expression and these changes are associated with liver fibrogenesis.