Effect of epidermal growth factor on cultured rat hepatocytes poisoned by CCl4

AIM: To study the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on CCl4-induced primary cultured hepatocytes injury. METHODS: Alanine aminotransferase (AlaAT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT) activities and K+ concentractions were determined by the Auto-biochemistry Assay System. Malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined by thiobarbituric acid method. Radioactivity was determined by liquid scintillometry. Light microscopy and electron microscopy were used. RESULTS: EGF 40 mu g . L(-1) decreased-CCl4 (10 mmol . L(-1))-induced damages of rat primary cultured hepatocytes by decreasing AlaAT and AspAT leakage and MDA production, and promoted RNA and DNA synthesis, with a high positive correlation between intracellular K+ DNA syntheses (r = 0.99, P < 0.01). Cytopathological study showed that EGF decreased damage of liver cells. CONCLUSION: EGF maintains the stability of cellular lipid membrane and promotes syntheses of RNA and DNA of hepatocytes, and intracellular K+ transference is a promotor of the message transmission of DNA synthesis.