Zonal heterogeneity of rat hepatocytes in the in vivo uptake of 17 nm colloidal gold granules

Summary The in vivo uptake in hepatocytes of intravenously injected colloidal gold granules with a diameter of 17 nm or 79 nm and coated with bovine serum albumin or with polyvinyl-pyrrolidone was studied. Irrespective of coating only the 17 nm granules were taken up in hepatocytes. Perivenous hepatocytes did take up much more gold granules than periportal hepatocytes. The gold granules were found in lysosomes around bile canaliculi. Two hours after injection hepatocytes contained the maximal amount of granules. At least a portion of the granules was discharged into the bile. The observed zonal gradient in the uptake of 17 nm gold granules might be caused by the greater supply of granules to the perivenous hepatocytes as a combined result of the higher porosity of the endothelial lining and the smaller number of Kupffer cells with a low endocytic activity in this zone.     

Biliary excretion of polystyrene microspheres depends on the type of receptor-mediated uptake in rat liver

Hepatic uptake and biliary excretion of fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled polystyrene microspheres with a particle size of 50 nm (MS-50) were studied in rats. Liver perfusion studies revealed that not only apo-E-mediated but also asialoglycoprotein receptor-mediated uptake is involved in the mechanism of the serum protein-dependent uptake of MS-50 in the liver. The uptake of MS-50 mediated by apo-E contributes more to the total uptake of MS-50 by the hepatocytes than that via asialoglycoprotein receptor in the presence of serum in the perfusate. Furthermore, it was found that MS-50 is substantially excreted into the bile by transcytosis. The extent of exocytosis of MS-50 taken up by the hepatocytes was much higher after MS-50 was endocytosed via asialoglycoprotein receptor than after taken up via the process mediated by apo-E. On the basis of these results, a possible regulation of the intracellular sorting of ligands, depending on the receptor-mediated uptake mechanism, was inferred.     

Endocytosis via galactose receptors in vivo : Ligand size directs uptake by hepatocytes and/or liver macrophages

We followed the intrahepatic binding and uptake of variously sized ligands with terminal galactosyl residues in rat livers. The ligands were administered to prefixed livers in binding studies and in vivo and in situ (serum-free perfused livers) in uptake studies. Gold sols with different particle diameters were prepared: 5 nm (Au5), 17 nm (Au17), 50 nm (Au50) and coated with galactose exposing glycoproteins (asialofetuin (ASF) or lactosylated BSA (LacBSA)). Electron microscopy of mildly prefixed livers perfused with LacBSA-Au5 in serum-free medium showed ligand binding to liver macrophages, hepatocytes and endothelial cells. Ligands bound to prefixed cell surfaces reflect the initial distribution of receptor activity: pre-aggregated clusters of ligands are found on liver macrophages, single particles statistically distributed on hepatocytes and pre-aggregated clusters of particles restricted to coated pits on endothelial cells. Ligand binding is prevented in the presence of 80 mM N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), while N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) is without effect. Electron microscopy of livers after ligand injection into the tail vein shows that in vivo uptake of electron-dense galactose particles by liver cells is size-dependent. Using a LacBSA-Au preparation with heterogeneous particle diameter (2.2-11.7 nm) we found that hepatocytes take up only ligands up to the size of 7.8 nm, whereas particles of all sizes available in this experiment are found in liver macrophages and endothelial cells. ASF-Au17 and LacBSA-Au17 are endocytosed by liver macrophages and endothelial cells, but not by hepatocytes. ASF-Au50 is taken up by liver macrophages only. In vivo uptake by liver macrophages is mediated by galactose-specific recognition as shown by inhibition with GalNAc. Some 52-65% inhibition was measured in in vivo experiments and 78% inhibition in in situ experiments. GlNAc showed no inhibitory effect. Furthermore, we measured uptake of [125J]ASF and of [125J]ASF adsorbed to Au17 by the different cell populations of rat livers in vivo. While the bulk of the molecular ligand is found in the hepatocyte fraction, the particulate ligand is located in the sinusoidal fraction.     

Binding, uptake, and transcytosis of ligands for mannose-specific receptors in rat liver: an electron microscopic study

We have investigated the initial distribution of mannose-specific binding sites in rat liver as well as the uptake and transcytosis pathways of ligands for this receptor in in situ and in vivo experiments. As ligands we used mannan adsorbed onto colloidal gold particles of sizes 5, 17, and 35 nm (Man-Au5, Man-Au17, or Man-Au35). The in situ binding pattern of Man-Au5 in the prefixed liver is identical to the one described earlier for galactose-exposing ligands in the same organ. With the exception of the binding by hepatocytes, where only scarce binding of Man-Au5 was observed, ligands were found adhering in a preclustered pattern all over the cell surface of liver macrophages and binding in aggregates over the coated pits of endothelial cells. In double-labeling experiments different particle sizes were used for glycoproteins with terminal mannosyl or galactosyl residues. This simultaneous localization of the two binding activities revealed that on endothelial cells the two activities are always found to be present in the same coated pit. On liver macrophages the clustered binding occurred at different membrane areas. Uptake and transcytosis of Man-Au5, 17, 35 were studied after their injection into the tail vein. Three and fifteen minutes after injection most of the Man-Au5 and all of Man-Au17 or Man-Au35 was found in sinusoidal liver cells, i.e., macrophages and endothelial cells. One hour after injection, endocytosed ligand is redistributed from large--presumably lysosomal--vacuoles to small noncoated vesicles that are localized predominantly near the space of Dissé. Between 1 and 40 h after injection, ligands of all sizes are transcytosed and found in the hepatocytes. No ligand accumulation is observed in hepatocytes as an indirect indication for secretion into bile. With this investigation we give evidence for transcytotic activity not only of liver endothelium but also of the resident liver macrophages.     

Hepatic binding and internalization of low density lipoprotein-gold conjugates in rats treated with 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol

Receptor-mediated hepatic uptake of low density lipoproteins (LDL) conjugated to colloidal gold was studied by perfusion of livers from rats treated for 5 d with 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol. Estrogen treatment resulted in a marked decrease in serum lipid and lipoprotein concentrations. After 15 min of perfusion the conjugate was bound to the hepatic microvilli of both control and estrogen-treated rats; the estrogen-treated rats showed an 8- to 11-fold greater number of membrane-bound conjugates. The conjugates were bound to the membrane receptor by the LDL particle because the gold granules were regularly displaced from the membrane by 20 +/- 3.2 nm, the diameter of LDL. Internalization of the conjugate, evident by gold particles in multivesicular bodies, occurred at coated pits at the base of the microvillus where coated vesicles containing a single gold-LDL conjugate were released. After 1 h of perfusion, the livers from the estrogen-treated rats showed all phases of endocytosis and incorporation into multivesicular bodies of the conjugate. After 2 h of perfusion, there was congregation of gold-labeled lysosomes near the bile canaliculi. Gold-LDL conjugates were also observed to bind and be internalized by Kupffer cells and sinusoidal endothelium. These findings indicate that estrogen treatment induces hepatic receptors for LDL. The catabolic pathway of binding and endocytosis of the conjugate is similar to that seen in fibroblasts, although slower. Because gold-LDL conjugates were also present in the Kupffer and endothelial cells, the uptake of LDL by the liver involves the participation of more than a single cell type.     

Comparative investigations on the uptake of phallotoxins, bile acids, bovine lactoperoxidase and horseradish peroxidase into rat hepatocytes in suspension and in cell cultures

Two alternative uptake mechanisms for phallotoxins by liver cells are debated: carrier-mediated uptake and receptor-mediated endocytosis. We have compared the properties of hepatocellular uptake of the phallotoxins, phalloidin and demethylphalloin, with the uptake of cholate as a substrate for carrier-mediated uptake and compared with iodinated bovine lactoperoxidase or iodinated horseradish peroxidase, as the latter are known to be taken up by vesicular endocytosis. Uptake of phallotoxins and [14C]cholate uptake into isolated hepatocytes is independent of extracellular calcium but inhibited by A23187 or by monensin. Uptake of bovine lactoperoxidase strictly depends on external Ca2+, was insensitive to A23197 and was not inhibited by monensin. No mutual uptake inhibition between phalloidin or cholate and peroxidases was seen, indicating independent permeation pathways in hepatocytes. However, high concentrations of cytochalasin B inhibited the uptake of either phalloidin, cholate or bovine lactoperoxidase. Horseradish peroxidase uptake, which was taken as an indicator for fluid pinocytosis, was low in isolated hepatocytes and could not account for the amount of phalloidin or cholate taken up. In cultured rat hepatocytes, uptake of phallotoxins decreased within 1 day to 10% of the uptake seen in freshly isolated hepatocytes. The results indicate different mechanisms for hepatocellular phallotoxin/bile-acid uptake and peroxidase internalization. As monolayer cultures of hepatocytes rapidly lost the carrier-mediated uptake of phallotoxins and bile acids, freshly isolated hepatocytes might be a more suitable experimental model than cultured cells for kinetic studies on this transport system.     

Synthesis of phospholipid-conjugated bile salts and interaction of bile salt-coated liposomes with cultured hepatocytes

To examine the possibility of targeting liposomes to hepatocytes via bile salts, the bile salt lithocholyltaurine was covalently linked to a phospholipid. The isomeric compounds disodium 3alpha-(2-(1,2-O-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-2'-ethanolamidosuccinyloxy)ethoxy)-5beta-cholan-24-oyl-2'-aminoethansulfonate and disodium 3beta-(2-(1,2-O-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phospho-2'-ethanolamidosuccinyloxy)ethoxy-5beta-cholan-24-oyl-2'-aminoethansulfonate (DSPE-3beta-LCT) were synthesized and incorporated into liposomal membranes. Confocal laser scanning microscopy studies showed that bile salt-bearing liposomes (BSLs) attach to the surface of rat hepatocytes in culture. Studies with radioactively labeled liposomes revealed that the bile salt linked via the 3beta-conformation resulted in a higher attachment efficiency than that with the 3alpha-derivative. In the presence of BSLs corresponding to 2 mM liposomal phosphatidylcholine, uptake of 50 microM cholyltaurine (CT) into hepatocytes was reduced by approximately 40% by the 3beta-derivative and by approximately 17% by the 3alpha-derivative. When added simultaneously with the liposomes, CT up to 75 microM inhibited the binding of DSPE-3beta-LCT-bearing liposomes. By contrast, increasing concentrations reversed this inhibition and resulted in an increased bile salt-mediated binding. The same was true when CT was added 10 min before the liposomes were added. The attachment of BSLs to the surface of hepatocytes opens up promising possibilities for hepatocyte-specific drug delivery. More generally, not only substrates for cellular endocytosing receptors but also substrates for cellular carrier proteins should be suitable ligands for the cell-specific targeting of nanoscale particles such as liposomes.     

Electron microscopic demonstration of calcitonin in human medullary carcinoma of thyroid by the immuno gold staining method

In a human medullary carcinoma of thyroid gland containing calcitonin in light microscopic demonstration by the avidin biotin complex (ABC) method characteristic secretory granules were found electron microscopically in the cytoplasm of the tumour cells. They consisted in so-called type I granules (270 +/- 25 nm) and type II granules (135 +/- 17 nm). By the immuno gold staining (IGS) method the content of many secretory granules measuring 85-270 nm (152 +/- 18 nm) in diameter could be identified as calcitonin. These granules seemed to be predominantly of type II because of their nearly corresponding size and feature. The type I granules were less frequent in number and they showed no or little immunoreactivity. The results indicate that the IGS-method is practicable to demonstrate the ultrastructural localization of calcitonin and to identify clearly the nature of intracytoplasmic granules in electron microscopy.     

Gilbert 综合征肝活检的超微结构特征*

目的:确定Gilbert综合征患者肝组织的超微结构特征,为Gilbert综合征的诊断和鉴别诊断提供新的方法。方法:按电镜常规进行标本制备,应用透射电镜对20例Gilbert综合征患者肝穿刺活检组织进行超微结构观察。结果:肝细胞可出现巨大线粒体,常含有副晶格样包涵体、较明显的基质致密颗粒。肝细胞常见脂褐素颗粒增多,多分布于毛细胆管周围肝细胞内。可出现较有特征性的色素颗粒,大小不等,卵圆形或不规则形,含有电子致密块状颗粒,与电子密度略低的聚集物以及脂滴互相混杂。这些溶酶体颗粒的基质由细小的、弱嗜锇性的颗粒组成。少数颗粒类似Dubin-Johnson综合征的颗粒。但颗粒较小,缺少致密核芯结构。结论:特征性的含粗大电子致密物的溶酶体对Gilbert综合征的诊断有重要参考价值。     

Immunocytochemical localization of delta 3, delta 2-enoyl-CoA isomerase in rat liver. The effects of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, a peroxisome proliferator

Immunocytochemical localization of delta 3, delta 2-enoyl-CoA isomerase (isomerase) was investigated in rat liver. Livers of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP)-treated or untreated rats were perfusion-fixed and embedded in Epon or Lowicryl K4M. By light microscopy, reaction deposits for the enzyme were present in the cytoplasmic granules of hepatocytes and interlobular bile duct epithelium. Weak staining was noted in sinus-lining cells. After administration of DEHP, the granular staining of the hepatocytes was markedly enhanced, whereas the staining reaction of the sinus-lining cells decreased. The isomerase staining pattern was quite similar to that of long-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (a mitochondrial marker), but different from that of catalase (a peroxisomal marker). Under electron microscopy, gold particles for isomerase were seen to be confined mainly to mitochondria of the hepatocytes, the bile duct epithelial cells and sinus-lining cells. Peroxisomes were weakly labeled. After DEHP administration, the peroxisomes were markedly induced, but the mitochondria were not. Quantitative analysis showed that the induction of the peroxisomal isomerase was only 2-fold whereas the mitochondrial isomerase was enhanced about 5-fold, 40 times as high as the peroxisomal enzyme. The results show that the mitochondria are the main intracellular site for isomerase and the peroxisomes a minor site. The mitochondrial isomerase of the rat liver is markedly induced by peroxisome proliferators, DEHP and clofibrate.     

Bile acid binding proteins in hepatocellular membranes of newborn and adult rats. Identification of transport proteins with azidobenzamidotauro[14C]cholate ([14C]ABATC)

Neonatal hepatocytes are less active in uptake of bile acids than are mature hepatocytes. This phenomenon has been further investigated by transport studies with azidobenzamidotaurocholate (ABATC). Taurocholate, cholate and the photolabile ABATC were taken up by liver cells of adult rats by a sodium-dependent and by an additional sodium-independent mechanism. In the dark, ABATC inhibited the uptake of taurocholate and cholate. Taurocholate decreased the transport of ABATC in a competitive manner, both in the presence and absence of sodium. In neonatal hepatocytes the Vmax for taurocholate and for ABATC was similar but was lower than in mature liver cells. In contrast, the Km was similar for neonatal and mature hepatocytes. For identification of binding proteins in both kinds of cells ABATC was photolysed after preincubation with isolated hepatocytes. Under our experimental conditions (single ultraviolet flash) about 80% of the azido groups was converted to nitrene. The covalently binding nitrene derivative inhibited bile salt transport irreversibly. Photolabeling of intact hepatocytes or of isolated plasma membranes with ABATC resulted in radioindication of membrane proteins with 67, 60, 54, 50 and 43 kDa in mature plasma membranes but of proteins with masses of 67, 54, 43 and 37 kDa in neonatal basolateral membranes. The 50 kDa protein in largely lacking in membranes of 9-day-old rats. The process of photolabeling itself was sodium-independent when isolated cells were treated with ABATC. In contrast, the degree of labeling of intact hepatocytes was markedly reduced in the absence of sodium and chloride. 100-fold molar excess of taurocholate, benzamidotaurocholate (BATC), phalloidin or cyclosomatostatin protected isolated plasma membranes against coupling of ABATC. Photolabeling of hepatoma cells known to be deficient in bile salt transport did not result in radiomodification of membrane proteins.     

Distribution of taurine-like immunoreactivity in the mouse liver during ontogeny and after carbon tetrachloride or phenobarbital intoxication

Summary The ontogenic pattern of development of taurine-like immunoreactivity (TLI) was studied in the mouse liver. The effect on adult mice of carbon tetrachloride or phenobarbital treatment was also examined. Light-microscopically, granules of TLI were first found in the liver from 17-day-old embryos, diffusely distributed throughout the lobules. These positive granules increased with age, were most numerous in the two-week-old mouse, and were notably decreased in the central region of some lobules in the three-week-old mouse. In mature mice, hepatocytes containing TLI-positive granules were distributed unevenly in each liver lobule, and were located predominantly in the peripheral region. Electron-microscopically, TLI was observed in small vesicles in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes and was found mainly in the cisternal lumen of smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. Some taurine-positive vesicles surrounding the reticulum seemed to associate with the protoplasm. Similar positive vesicles were often located near the bile canaliculi. In carbon tetrachloride-intoxicated mature mice, TLI was no longer limited to the peripheral region of lobules; hepatocytes situated in the central region of lobules also contained intense TLI. In mice injected with a small and repeated dose of phenobarbital, the distribution pattern of TLI was similar to that in the untreated group. However, in mice injected with a large dose of phenobarbital, TLI was markedly increased, especially in the central region of lobules. The results demonstrate that the distribution pattern of TLI in mouse liver changes during development, and that the pattern in mature mice is affected by intoxication with carbon tetrachloride or a toxic dose of phenobarbital.     

Hepatic processing of the cholesteryl ester from low density lipoprotein in the rat

Human low density lipoprotein (LDL), radiolabeled in the cholesteryl ester moiety, was injected into estrogen-treated and -untreated rats. The hepatic and extrahepatic distribution and biliary secretion of [3H]cholesteryl esters were determined at various times after injection. In order to follow the intrahepatic metabolism of the cholesteryl esters of LDL in vivo, the liver was subfractioned into parenchymal and Kupffer cells by a low temperature cell isolation procedure. In control rats, the LDL cholesteryl esters were mainly taken up by the Kupffer cells. After uptake, the [3H]cholesteryl esters are rapidly hydrolyzed, followed by release of [3H]cholesterol from the cells to other sites in the body. Up to 24 h after injection of LDL, only 9% of the radioactivity appeared in the bile, whereas after 72 h, this value was 30%. Hepatic and especially the parenchymal cell uptake of [3H]cholesteryl esters from LDL was strongly increased upon 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol treatment (3 days, 5 mg/kg). After rapid hydrolysis of the esters, [3H]cholesterol was both secreted into bile (28% of the injected dose in the first 24 h) as well as stored inside the cells as re-esterified cholesterol ester. It is concluded that uptake of human LDL by the liver in untreated rats is not efficiently coupled to biliary secretion of cholesterol (derivatives), which might be due to the anatomical localization of the principal uptake site, the Kupffer cells. In contrast, uptake of LDL cholesterol ester by liver hepatocytes is tightly coupled to bile excretion. The Kupffer cell uptake of LDL might be necessary in order to convert LDL cholesterol (esters) into a less toxic form. This activity can be functional in animals with low receptor activity on hepatocytes, as observed in untreated rats, or after diet-induced down-regulation of hepatocyte LDL receptors in other animals.     

Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase in AKR leukemic cells and lack of relation of enzyme activity to cell cycle phase.

Cholate and taurocholate uptakes were studied in presence of albumin using isolated rat hepatocytes. Albumin decreased nonspecific binding of both bile acids and inhibited cholate uptake noncompetitively and taurocholate uptake competitively. Although different bile acids except dehydrocholate inhibited both cholate and taurocholate uptake, their relative inhibitory potency was not the same for both bile acids. Uptake of both bile acids was characterized by a saturable as well as an unsaturable process both in presence and in absence of albumin. The results suggest that both bile acids may be transported by more than one carrier and taurocholate is transported more efficiently than cholate by hepatocytes.     

Hydrogen exchange during oxidoreduction and epimerization at C-3 of C19 steroid sulphates in the rat

Mixtures of 17 beta-hydroxy-5 alpha-[16,16,17 alpha-2H3]androstan-3-one 17-sulphate and 5 alpha-[3 beta (or 3 alpha)-2H]androstane-3 alpha (or 3 beta), 17 beta-diol 17-sulphate were incubated with isolated hepatocytes from female rats or infused intravenously in female rats with bile fistulas. The androstanediols formed were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Metabolism of 3H-labelled steroids was also studied in corresponding experiments. Isolated hepatocytes rapidly reduced the 3-oxosteroid to the corresponding 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid, which was more rapidly sulphated than the incubated 3 alpha-androstanediol. The 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid was extensively oxidoreduced both in vivo and in isolated hepatocytes. The intermediate formed during oxidoreduction in vivo was incompletely mixed with the infused 3-oxosteroid indicating extrahepatic uptake of the latter. The 3 beta-hydroxysteroid was sulphated without significant oxidoreduction and a minor fraction was converted to 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid both in vivo and in isolated hepatocytes. The incubated 3 beta-hydroxysteroid contributed more to the disulphate of the isolated 3 alpha-hydroxysteroid than to the monosulphate, indicating that the incubated 3-oxosteroid and the intermediate in the inversion were not completely mixed. Deuterium from the 3 beta- or 3 alpha-positions of the incubated [3-2H]androstanediols was not incorporated in androstanediol molecules derived from the 3-oxosteroid. However, both in vivo and in isolated hepatocytes the 5 alpha-[3 alpha-2H]androstane-3 beta,17 beta-diol 17-sulphate molecules which underwent inversion at C-3 retained 50-80% of the deuterium. This indicates that the inversion was not caused by two separate oxidoreductases.     

Electron microscopic demonstration of calcitonin in human medullary carcinoma of thyroid by the immuno gold staining method

Summary In a human medullary carcinoma of thyroid gland containing calcitonin in light microscopic demonstration by the avidin biotin complex (ABC) method characteristic secretory granules were found electron microscopically in the cytoplasm of the tumour cells. They consisted in so-called type I granules (270±25 nm) and type II granules (135±17 nm). By the immuno gold staining (IGS) method the content of many secretory granules measuring 85–270 nm (152±18 nm) in diameter could be identified as calcitonin. These granules seemed to be predominantly of type II because of their nearly corresponding size and feature. The type I grnaules were less frequent in number and they showed no or little immunoreactivity. The results indicate that the IGS-method is practicable to demonstrate the ultrastructural localization of calcitonin and to identify clearly the nature of intracytoplasmic granules in electron microscopy.     

Processing of cholesteryl ester from low-density lipoproteins in the rat. Hepatic metabolism and biliary secretion after uptake by different hepatic cell types.

Biliary secretion of the cholesteryl ester moiety of (modified) low-density lipoprotein (LDL) was examined under various experimental conditions in the rat. Human LDL or acetylated LDL (acetyl-LDL), radiolabelled with [3H]cholesteryl oleate, was administered intravenously to unanesthetized rats equipped with permanent catheters in the bile duct, duodenum and heart. LDL was cleared relatively slowly from plasma, mainly by Kupffer cells. At 3 h after injection, only 0.9% of the radioactivity was found in bile; after 12 h this value was 4.5%. Uptake of LDL by hepatocytes was stimulated by treatment of the rats with 17 alpha-ethinyloestradiol (EE; 5 mg/kg for 3 successive days); this resulted in a more rapid secretion of radioactivity into bile, 3.9% and 12.4% after 3 h and 12 h respectively. The extremely rapid uptake of acetyl-LDL via the scavenger pathway, mainly by endothelial cells, resulted in the secretion of only 2.1% of its 3H label into bile within 3 h, and 9.5% within 12 h. Radioactivity in bile was predominantly in the form of bile acids; only a small part was secreted as free cholesterol. However, the specific radioactivity of biliary cholesterol was higher than that of bile acids in all three experimental conditions. EE-treated animals did not form cholic acid from [3H]cholesteryl oleate, which was a major product of the cholesteryl oleate from LDL and acetyl-LDL in untreated rats, but formed predominantly very polar bile acids, i.e. muricholic acids. It is concluded that uptake of human LDL or acetyl-LDL by the liver of untreated rats is not efficiently coupled to biliary secretion of cholesterol (bile acids). This might be due to the anatomical localization of their principal uptake sites, the Kupffer cells and the endothelial cells respectively. Induction of LDL uptake by hepatocytes by EE treatment warrants a more efficient disposition of cholesterol from the body via bile.     

Photophysical characterization and flow cytometry applications of cholylamidofluorescein, a fluorescent bile acid scaffold

Cholylamidofluorescein (CamF) has been selected as a fluorescent bile acid scaffold to perform a full characterization of its photophysical properties. In aqueous medium, under nitrogen, the absorption spectrum of CamF was expectedly dependent on pH. Under air, the presence of CO(2) resulted in a partial protonation of the photoactive form, reducing the absorbance of CamF. The fluorescence spectrum of CamF in ethanol (lambda(exc) = 481 nm) showed a broad band with maximum at 518 nm; the fluorescence quantum yield was 0.67, and the fluorescence lifetime was 4.8 ns. Laser flash photolysis of CamF showed the triplet state transient with a broad maximum at ca. 540 nm and a lifetime of 19 mus. Flow cytometric kinetic assay of CamF uptake in real time was performed in suspensions of rat hepatocytes, showing that living hepatocytes accumulated slowly but constantly CamF along the 5-minute experimental period. Besides, intracellular fluorescence of live cells was found to be clearly dependent on the extracellular concentration of CamF. Thus, flow cytometry has allowed us to demonstrate that CamF is specifically taken up by living rat hepatocytes in a concentration-dependent fashion, suggesting the suitability of this molecule for further studies on bile-acid transport in liver cells.     

Hepatocellular uptake of cyclosporin A by simple diffusion

Cyclosporin A is known to be eliminated mainly via the biliary++ pathway after biotransformation. Whether liver cells take up the drug by simple diffusion across the lipid barrier or by carrier-mediated transport, as shown for some other peptides, was unknown up to the present. Experiments with [3H]cyclosporin A on isolated rat hepatocytes indicate that the uptake of cyclosporin A is neither saturable nor is driven by metabolic energy. Cholestasis caused by cyclosporin A treatment is therefore not the result of mutual competition for a carrier protein. Nevertheless, cyclosporin A interacts with the bile acid transport system by non-competitive inhibition of bile salt uptake.     

Comparison of detecting sensitivities of different sizes of gold particles with electron-microscopic immunogold staining using atrial natriuretic peptide in rat atria as a model

The detecting sensitivities of different-sized gold particles were compared in the localization of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in rat atria. The secondary antibodies were goat antirabbit labeled with 5, 15, 30, or 40 nm colloidal gold diluted 1:2 to 1:100 in Tris buffer. The relative quantity of alpha-ANP immunoreactivity in specific granules was determined by subtracting the number of gold particles in 1 micron 2 nongranule area from that in 1 micron 2 granule area measured with a computerized image analyzer. The optimal dilution that achieved the maximal contrast between specific and background label was influenced by the particle size. Optimal dilutions were 1:80, 1:30, 1:20, and 1:5 for 5, 15, 30, and 40 nm gold, respectively. At optimal dilutions, the maximal detecting sensitivity (MDS) was in inverse proportion to the gold particle size; however, this relationship is not entirely linear. The ratio among the MDSs of 5, 15, 30, and 40 nm gold particles was approximately 34:9:3:2. A double immunogold staining was performed to localize alpha- and beta-ANPs with 15 and 5 nm gold, respectively. Both antigens were detected in the same granules. If the ratios established from the single staining data were used, the ratio between the alpha- and the beta-ANP antigens in the same granules was approximately 2.8:1. The data obtained in this study provide a useful reference for applications of immunogold electron microscopy in a quantitative manner, particularly for double immunogold labeling.