Evidence for direct action of testosterone on rat liver cells: in vivo and in vitro induction of unusual estrogen-binding protein

Anabolic Steroid Nandrolone Augments Hepatic Regenerative Response in Rats

The success of recovery after liver resection depends on the regeneration and functions of the remnant liver. In this study we investigated whether liver regeneration was facilitated by nandrolone decaonate after two-thirds partial hepatectomy in rats. Study animals were pretreated with nandrolone (5 mg/kg), while control animals received a placebo. Animal were sacrificed at 12, 24, 48, and 72 hours. We compared the survival rates, liver function tests as well as the amount of apoptosis by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine-biotin nick end labeling assay, and regeneration, which was expressed as ratio of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and restoration ratio. A significant increase in hepatocyte regeneration at 24 and 48 hours in partially hepatectomized rats treated with nandrolone decaonate was observed compared to controls. This observation was confirmed by the significant acceleration of the liver restoration rate, which was 1/5 faster than in partially hepatectomized controls. The results of this study indicate that liver regeneration in rats treated with nandrolone show a prompt, faster regeneration after partial hepatectomy.

Evidence for a regional-specific control of rat preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation by the androgenic status

In the rat, castration induces a decreased weight of fat depots. One possible explanation for these alterations could be that the capacities of preadipocytes to proliferate and differentiate are reduced by castration. Considering the regional specification of adipose tissue metabolism, these capacities and their eventual modulation by the androgenic status were presently compared in cultured preadipocytes from rat subcutaneous (SC) and epididymal fat depots.In epididymal preadipocytes, castration induced an increase in their proliferative capacity and conversely, a decrease in their adipogenesis.In vivo treatment by testosterone reversed the proliferative alteration but not the defective adipogenesis caused by castration.In vitro, no direct effect of testosterone on the proliferative capacities of epididymal preadipocytes could be observed suggesting that testosterone acts indirectly or needs the presence of other cofactors, such as insulin, dexamethasone and growth hormone. Surprisingly, testosterone partly counteracted the inhibitory effect of growth hormone on preadipocyte differentiation.In contrast to these observations, SC preadipocytes were completely insensitive to the androgenic status in terms of proliferation and differentiation.This study showing site-specific effects of castration on preadipocyte proliferation and differentiation suggests that part of the decreased fatness induced by castration in the rat is related to the modulatory effect of androgenic status on adipogenesis in some deep fat depots.

Immunocytochemical localization of prolactin receptors in rat liver cells: I. Dependence on sex and sex steroids

The peculiarities of cellular and tissue distribution of prolactin receptors (PRLR) in the liver of female and male rats with different sex steroid status were investigated in paraplast-embedded tissue with the indirect immunoperoxidase technique. Two clones of antibodies directed outside the PRL-binding site (U6) or to the PRL-binding site (T6) of the receptor were used. PRLR-specific immunoreactivity was identified essentially in hepatocytes. PRLR can be visualized in sinusoidal domains of cellular membranes, in cytoplasmic granules and sometimes in the perinuclear area of hepatocytes. The staining characteristics were similar with both antibodies. There were no prominent differences in the intensity of PRLR-positive staining among hepatocytes of different zones of hepatic lobules with the exception of some hepatocytes around central veins. Sex differences in the intensity of immunostaining (strong in females, and faint in males) but not in the amount and distribution of PRLR-containing cells were observed. Gonadectomy of animals caused the disappearance of sex differences in the intensity of PRLR-positive staining as a result of its decrease in females and increase in males. The essential elevation in the intensity of PRLR-specific immunoreactivity was revealed in hepatocytes of gonadectomized females and males after prolonged estradiol administration (10 micrograms for 14 days). The cytoplasmic staining of some hepatocytes surrounding central veins was much more pronounced in estrogenized animals. PRLR-specific immunoreactivity in the perinuclear area was identified in these cells. Androgen treatment (3 mg of testosterone-propionate for 3 days) of gonadectomized animals caused a decrease in the intensity of hepatocyte PRLR-positive staining similarly in both sexes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Inheritance of androgen program of male-specific expression of unusual estrogen-binding protein by daughter hepatocytes at rat liver regeneration

A possibility of inheritance of androgen and basic genetic programs at the level of unusual estrogen-binding protein (UEBP) by daughter hepatocytes was investigated. Liver regeneration after partial (2/3) hepatectomy or after selective poisoning of hepatocytes of the central zone of hepatic lobules with CCl4 in adult rats were used as models of total and zonal proliferation of hepatocytes, respectively. UEBP content and the pattern of its tissue expression in the course of liver regeneration were monitored by radioligand and immunocytochemical technique. In animals of all groups possessing the androgen program of UEBP expression (intact, castrated and/or hypophysectomized males, and ovariectomized females treated with androgen) UEBP content was shown to be similarly high before initiation and after completion of liver regeneration. Unlike in males, in androgenized females a transient 4-fold increase of UEBP concentration on day 4 after partial hepatectomy was observed. In animals with a basic genetic program at the level of this protein (ovariectomized females, neonatally castrated males) only trace amounts of UEBP were observed in intact as well as in regenerated liver. The data were confirmed by immunocytochemical technique. A gradient mode of distribution of UEBP-contained cells within hepatic lobules with the highest specific staining around central veins was found by immunocytochemical technique in males. Specific staining of centrolobular and periportal hepatocytes was 7- to 10-fold in intact, and 4- to 6-fold in castrated and/or hypophysectomized males. In intact females specific staining was distributed uniformly at extremely low levels similar to that in periportal hepatocytes of males. Androgen administration to ovariectomized females stimulated a significant and stable increase of UEBP content in two layers of hepatocytes surrounding the central vein. Profiles of specific staining of hepatocytes within the hepatic lobules similar to that in control animals were observed after the completion of liver regeneration of different groups of rats. The results obtained suggest all the hepatocytes to be targets for androgen programming, natural in males or experimental in females, while the extent of expression of this program depends on the position of a hepatocyte within the liver lobules and the sex of the animal.