ABSTRACT
Objective Hepatic stimulator substance(HSS)is newly defined as a growth mitogen to hepatocytes.This sutdy is aiming to investigate the effect of recombinant human hepatic stimulator substance(rhHSS) on growth of liver oval cells(OVCs). Methods OVCs were prepared from intoxicated rats with 3'-methyl-dimethylaminoazobenzene.After confirmation of OVC morphologically and histochemically,the cell cultures of OVC were exposed to various dosages of rhHSS for 12 and 24?h,respectively.The cellular proliferation was analyzed by MTT and flow cytometry. Results Administration of rhHSS(160-400 mg/L)inhibited the proliferation of OVC,as indicated by MTT and cell cycle analysis,the effect appeared non-dose dependent pattern.The peak of inhibition occurred at 240?mg/L.After incubation with 240?mg/L of HSS for 12 and 24?h,the percentages of S-phase were reduced 47.8% and 35.8% to those of the untreated cells.respectively.Conclusion rhHSS exhibits the inhibitory effect on growth of OVC.