Early changes induced by 2-acetylaminofluorene in lysosomes in rat liver parenchymal cells

Interactions of asbestos fibers with hepatocytes in vitro: an ultrastructural study

Cultures of rat hepatocytes have been used to study the interaction of chrysotile asbestos fibers with epithelial cells. The hepatocytes were incubated for 20 h with chrysotile asbestos (UICC B and a preparation of short fibers: 90% less than 2 micron) at concentrations of 1 or 10 micrograms/ml. Morphologic studies were then performed by means of transmission electron microscopy. Fibers were incorporated into plasma membrane invaginations, cytoplasmic vacuoles and phagolysosomes. These observations demonstrate that rat hepatocytes can engage in phagocytosis of chrysotile fibers. The results are compared to those previously obtained with mesothelial cells and tracheobronchial epithelium, exposed to asbestos in vitro. The advantages of the hepatocyte model to investigate the effects on cells of the association of asbestos fibers with genotoxic agents in relation to carcinogenesis are discussed.

[DNase II activation in rat liver in the course of acute diethylnitrosamine-induced damage (author's transl)]

Single oral treatment of rats with acutely toxic doses of diethylnitrosamine (DENA) caused a temporary increase of liver-deoxyribonuclease II (DNase II) in homogenate, parenchymal cell, and diverse cell compartments. Highest stimulation resulted in nuclear fraction and cytosol. Due to largely congruent in vitro features, it was suggested that the normal as well as the DENA-activated DNase II were identical. Non-ionic detergents enhanced the enzyme activity only in control samples to a relatively small extent. Suitable conditions of reaction provided, the activation was suppressed by cycloheximide. The results indicated different mechanisms of DNase II activation in the course of an acute DENA-intoxication: 1. release of structurally bound DNase II fractions into cytosol; 2. induction of the enzyme and/or of an effector; 3. enhancement of the nucleus bound enzyme activity by translocation of activated DNase II from cytosolic to nuclear area.

Acute and persistent ultrastructural changes in rat liver after a single dose of 2-acetylaminofluorene: effect of co-administration of cycloheximide

Electron microscope studies have been made of rat hepatic cell morphology, 24 hr, 48 hr and 24 weeks after a single intragastric dose of 2-acetylaminofluorene (2-AFF), alone or together with a single s.c. dose of cycloheximide (CHM). CHM prevents the acute perinuclear glycogen pooling, peripheral displacement of cytoplasmic organelles and nuclear shrinkage induced by 2-AAF. However, the induction by 2-AAF of changes in the granular endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria and bile canaliculi is enhanced by co-administration of CHM. These changes persist for at least 24 weeks and are similar to those induced during 2-AAF hepatocarcinogenesis and observed in hepatocellular tumours. In view of the similar results obtained in previous studies with the azocarcinogen, 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene, the possibility is discussed that these persistent changes might be associated with the initiation phase of neoplastic induction.

Hepatocyte suspensions and cultures as tools in experimental carcinogenesis

Isolation of preneoplastic cell populations would greatly facilitate analysis of the development of liver carcinogenesis. Suspensions of intact single cells can be prepared in an almost quantitative yield by two-step perfusion of the isolated liver. In the first step the liver is perfused with a Ca2+-free buffer (or with EGTA) in order to irreversibly cleave the desmosomes; in the second step perfusion with Ca2+-activated collagenase dissolves the collagenous extracellular matrix. The resulting single-cell suspension will be a mixture of intact normal and preneoplastic hepatocytes, other liver cell types (mostly Kupffer and endothelial cells), damaged cells, and subcellular debris. Intact hepatocytes can be purified--e.g., by differential centrifugation--but separation of preneoplastic from normal cells has not yet been achieved. Density gradient separation or selection in culture on the basis of the unique properties of preneoplastic hepatocytes (e.g., drug resistance) may prove useful. The use of hepatocyte cultures and liver-derived epithelial cell lines as test systems and models for chemical carcinogenesis in vitro is briefly reviewed.

Scanning electron microscopic surface morphology of isolated hepatocytes from normal and premalignant rat liver

Scanning electron microscopy was performed on hepatocytes isolated after collagenase perfusion of livers from rats fed 2-acetylaminofluorene (AAF) in the diet for 6--8 weeks and on hepatocytes from control rats. The premalignant AAF-cells showed a greater variation in cell size and shape. They also exhibited a reduced number of microvilli and more blebs and other protrusions on the surface than hepatocytes from control animals.

Aldehyde dehydrogenase in 2-acetamidofluorene-induced rat hepatomas. Ontogeny and evidence that the new isoenzymes are not due to normal gene de-repression

The pre- and post-natal ontogeny of Sprague-Dawley rat liver aldehyde dehydrogenase [aldehyde-NAD(P)(+) oxidoreductase, EC 1.2.1.5] is described. At no time in its ontogenetic development does normal liver aldehyde dehydrogenase exhibit any of the characteristics of a series of unique aldehyde dehydrogenases that can be isolated from 2-acetamidofluorene-induced rat hepatomas. Enzyme activity is first detectable in 15-day foetal liver and gradually increases throughout pre- and post-natal development until adult activities are attained by day 49 after birth. Electrophoretically, normal aldehyde dehydrogenase, throughout its ontogeny, exists as the same single isoenzyme found in normal adult liver. Isoelectric points for two normal liver isoenzymes demonstrable by isoelectric focusing are pH5.9 and 6.0. The immunochemical properties of aldehyde dehydrogenase during its ontogeny are identical with those of normal adult liver aldehyde dehydrogenase when tested against anti-(hepatoma aldehyde dehydrogenase) serum in Ouchterlony double-diffusion tests. The results indicate that the hepatoma-specific aldehyde dehydrogenases are not the result of the de-repression of genes normally repressed in adult rat liver or in some other adult tissue.