Multiplicative mononuclear small hepatocytes in adult rat liver : Their isolation as a homogeneous population and localization to periportal zone

Asahina Kinji

Shiokawa Miho

Ueki Takuro

Yamasaki Chihiro

Aratani Akiko

Tateno Chise

Yoshizato Katsutoshi

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

Adult rat liver contains a minor population of hepatocytes called small hepatocytes (SHs) that are smaller in size and show a higher replicative potential than conventional parenchymal hepatocytes (PHs). However, SHs have been hitherto characterized using a "SH-fraction" that was contaminated with PHs. In the present study, we isolated a PH-free SH-fraction from the adult rat liver using fluorescence-activated cell sorter combined with centrifugal elutriation and characterized the hepatocytes in the fraction. These hepatocytes were designated R3Hs in this study. R3Hs were mononuclear and of lower ploidy. They expressed at high levels genes of Cdc2, connexin 26, hydroxysteroid sulfotransferase, pancreatic secretory trypsin inhibitor, and prostaglandin E2 receptor EP3 subtype. We conclude that SHs dominate the periportal zone in the adult liver, because mRNA or proteins of these genes were exclusively expressed by periportal hepatocytes.

cyp2c22

cyp7a1

ploidy

liver progenitor cells

cDNA microarray

FACS

sorting

hepatic zonation

Biology [ 460 ]

Medical sciences [ 490 ]

eng

Elsevier Inc.

Copyright (c) 2006 Elsevier Inc.

[NCID] AA00564395

[ISSN] 0006-291X

[DOI] 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.02.076

[PMID] 16516159

[DOI] http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.02.076 isVersionOf