Glucose-6-phosphatase distribution in isolated and cultured adult rat hepatocytes.

The cytochemical localization of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and its biochemical quantification were studied in isolated and cultured adult rat parenchymal cells. Appropriate technical conditions were chosen to assume adequate ultrastructural preservation and retention of enzyme activity. Isolated hepatocytes separated by collagenase perfusion were shortly fixed in glutaraldehyde and entrapped in a pellet of fibrin. Frozen sections, 50 microns in thickness were incubated for cytochemical demonstration of G6Pase, in a slightly modified Wachstein-Meisel medium. Hepatocytes in culture, fixed for 1 min in glutaraldehyde, were impregnated in a 10% cryoprotective glycerol solution and quickly frozen in liquid nitrogen at -170 degrees C in order to induce penetration of the substrate. In these conditions, a homogeneous distribution of the enzyme was observed in both isolated and cultured cells. The cytochemical reaction appears continuous in the smooth and rough endoplasmic cisternae and in the nuclear envelope. Lead phosphate deposits, although evenly distributed, are reduced in intensity after 48 h culture. Biochemical determinations reveal the presence of a high specific enzymatic activity in isolated cells (108 nmolP/min/mg proteins), which decreases in culture, respectively to 70 and 50% of the original value, after 24 and 48 h culture. G6Pase induction by glucagon was obtained after 48 and 72 h in culture.

Human placental oxytocinase and its relationship to pregnancy plasma oxytocinase.

Plasma "oxytocinase of pregnancy" and three placental "oxytocinase" fractions from human placental extracts were compared. On the basis of acrylamide-agarose chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, substrate specificity, heat liability and relative insensitiveness to L-methionine, it is concluded that placental enzyme activities, present in the second acrylamide-agarose peak, are identical with the plasma "pregnancy oxytocinase" and are to be regarded as its source. The hypothesis of a transplacental passage of placental peak II oxytocinase in the blood compartment of the mother seems well supported. Heat treatment of the placental extracts uncovered a minor activity behaving like Oya's microsomal oxytocinase, which is totally unlike the plasma oxytocinase and plays no part in the increased oxytocinase activity of human pregnancy plasma. A hitherto undescribed enzyme activity shares with the pregnancy oxytocinase its specificity towards L-leucyl-beta-naphthylamide and di-S-S-L-cysteinyl-beta-naphthylamide, its heat lability and realtive insensitiveness to L-methionine. However, this activity is carried by a protein of much lower molecular weight as judged by acrylamide-agarose chromatography, which shows only a single activity band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

Effect of insulin on ultrastructure and glycogenesis in primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes.

Insulin in the presence of high concentrations of glucose has a beneficial trophic effect on the development of primary cultures of hepatocytes. Compared to the situation observed in hormone-free control cultures, the flattening of the reaggregated hepatocytes is enhanced, and the reconstituted cell trabeculae are enlarged and tend to form a confluent monolayer after 3 days; the survival time is prolonged from 3 to 5 or 6 days. Ultrastructural modifications are also initiated by insulin; numerous glycogen particles appear after 24 h, in between the cisternae of the proliferated smooth endoplasmic reticulum. After 48 h, large amounts of glycogen are stored, and numerous polysomes are present. A small number of cells showed an increased synthesis of lipid droplets in the lumen of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum and form liposomes at the same time. After 72 h, cytolysomes filled with glycogen develop, simulating glycogenosis type II. Simultaneously, microtubules and microfilaments, closely related to numerous polysomes, appear in cytoplasmic extensions constituting undulating membranes. The biochemical data demonstrate that, in the absence of insulin, a high concentration of glucose stimulates glycogenesis and hinders glycogenolysis. This effect of glucose on polysaccharide synthesis is progressively lost. The addition of insulin to the culture induces after 48 and 72 h, a three- to fivefold increase of the glucose incorporation into glycogen, as compared to the controls. The presence of insulin is required to maintain the hepatocyte's capacity to store glycogen. Glycogen synthetase is converted into its active form under the influence of glucose. Insulin increases the rate of activation.

Isolation of centrolobular and perilobular hepatocytes after phenobarbital treatment.

Daily phenobarbital (PB) injections, on 3-7 consecutive days, induce an intense proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum (ER) associated with a decrease of the glucose-6-phosphatase activity. This situation first affects the centrolobular hepatocytes, enhancing the degree of liver lobule heterogeneity. This experimental model was used for isolation and further subfractionation of hepatocytes on Ficoll density gradients, as described in the preceding paper. Profiles of protein, DNA, RNA, glycogen, phosphorylase, and glucose-6-phosphatase were determined all along the gradient. Two liver cell populations were distinguished: (a) light hepatocytes (mean density 1.10) present the same morphological characteristics as centrolobular cells, i.e., an abundant smooth ER composed of tubular elements, numerous small mitochondria, and few glycogen particles; (b) heavy hepatocytes (mean density 1.14) are characterized by large and compact glycogen areas and prominent rough endoplasmic cisternae, as are the perilobular cells. After incubation in the Wachstein-Meisel medium, Centrolobular hepatocytes exhibit dispersed reaction sites of glucose-6-phosphatase activity, whereas perilobular cells present a continuous and intense reaction. Morphometric determinations were carried out for both cell populations. Centrolobular PB hepatocytes are considerably enlarged (mean diameter: 23.7 mum); perilobular hepatocytes have a significantly smaller mean diameter of 19.2 mum, which is close to the values of control liver cells.