The portal lobule in rat liver fibrosis: A re‐evaluation of the liver unit

Ekapot Bhunchet, Kenjiro Wake – 30 December 2003 – We re‐evaluated three schemes of liver organization: the classic lobule, the portal lobule, and Rappaport's liver acinus. The lobular angioarchitecture of normal rat liver and the three‐dimensional structure of pseudolubules found in rat livers with fibrosis induced by swine serum were compared with the classic lobule of the pig. Normal and fibrotic rat livers and pig livers were perfused, injected with either India ink or 0.75% OsO4 through the portal and/or hepatic vein, and immersionfixed.

Lack of C/EBPα gene expression results in increased DNA synthesis and an increased frequency of immortalization of freshly isolated mice hepatocytes

Humberto E. Soriano, Dong C. Kang, Milton J. Finegold, M. John Hicks, Nai‐Dy Wang, Wilbur Harrison, Gretchen J. Darlington – 30 December 2003 – The CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα) binds to specific promoter sequences and directs transcription of many genes expressed in the liver. Overexpression of C/EBPα in established cell lines inhibits cell proliferation. Primary hepatocytes from newborn C/EBPα(−/−) mice and normal littermates were used to determine whether the absence of C/EBPα increased proliferation and/or transformation of these cells in vitro.

Effects of F‐180, a new selective vasoconstrictor peptide, compared with terlipressin and vasopressin on systemic and splanchnic hemodynamics in a rat model of portal hypertension

Cristina Bernadich, Juan‐Carlos Bandi, Per Melin, Jaime Bosch – 30 December 2003 – The present study is aimed at characterizing the portal, splanchnic, and systemic circulatory effects of F‐180, a new long‐acting analog of vasopressin (VP) with selective effect on the vascular (V1 ) receptor, both in normal rats and in portal‐hypertensive animals. In preliminary vasopressor tests, F‐180 was 18 times more potent than terlipressin (TP) (164 ± 10 IU × mmol−1 vs. 9.2 ± 1.2 IU × mmol−1) and four times less potent than arginine VP (614 ± 25 IU × mmol−1).

Identification of a protein isolated from senescent human cells that binds to hepatitis B virus X antigen

Bill S. Sun, Xianhua Zhu, Marcy M. Clayton, Jingbo Pan, Mark A. Feitelson – 30 December 2003 – Hepatitis B virus–encoded X antigen contributes to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Given that X antigen functions by binding to other proteins, additional X‐binding proteins were sought from an adult human liver cDNA library in a yeast two‐hybrid system. The results yielded a clone encoding a 55‐kd protein that is associated with replicative senescence (p55sen). Binding of p55sen to X antigen was confirmed in vitro by immunoprecipitation and affinity chromatography.

Pharmacological expression in rat hepatocytes of a gene transferred by an adenovirus vector enabled by a chimeric promoter containing multiple cyclic adenosine monophosphate response elements

Motoyoshi Suzuki, Ravi N. Singh, Ronald G. Crystal – 30 December 2003 – Using the adenovirus vector AdCF126(CRE8).Luc to deliver an expression cassette containing multiple cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) response elements driving the luciferase reporter gene, this study is directed toward evaluating the possibility of controlling genes transferred to the liver using pharmacological agents that raise hepatocyte cAMP levels. Infection of primary rat hepatocytes with AdCF126(CRE8).Luc yielded a low level of luciferase activity that was enhanced 16‐fold by the addition of forskolin.

Increased renal and vascular cytosolic phospholipase A2 activity in rats with cirrhosis and ascites

Michel Niederberger, Pere Ginès, Pierre‐Yves Martin, Judy St. John, Paul Woytaszek, Lieming Xu, Phoebe Tsai, Raphael A. Nemenoff, Robert W. Schrier – 30 December 2003 – Indirect evidence suggests that the renal and vascular production of prostaglandins is increased in cirrhosis with ascites. However, the activity of the enzymes regulating the prostaglandin pathway has not been investigated in cirrhosis.

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