Enhanced proliferation of fetal rat hepatocytes in primary culture induced by ritodrine
Objective: Although ritodrine crosses the placenta, its direct effect on fetal cell proliferation has not been reported. We hypothesized that β 2-adrenergic receptor stimulation could promote fetal liver growth. Study Design: Ritodrine was added to serum- and hormone-free primary cultures of fetal,...
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Published in | American journal of obstetrics and gynecology Vol. 168; no. 2; pp. 693 - 697 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Philadelphia, PA
Mosby, Inc
01.02.1993
Elsevier |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Objective: Although ritodrine crosses the placenta, its direct effect on fetal cell proliferation has not been reported. We hypothesized that β
2-adrenergic receptor stimulation could promote fetal liver growth.
Study Design: Ritodrine was added to serum- and hormone-free primary cultures of fetal, neonatal, or adult rat hepatocytes. We measured both tritiated thymidine incorporation into deoxyribonucleic acid and nucleus number. The effect of ritodrine on cell cycle was also analyzed with flow cytometry.
Results: Ritodrine enhanced the proliferation of fetal rat hepatocytes. Ritodrine remarkably stimulated deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis of fetal and neonatal but not adult hepatocytes. The effect was dose dependent and was antagonized by propranolol. Analysis of the nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid content derived from flow cytometry revealed that cells stimulated by ritodrine entered S phase.
Conclusion: These results indicate that ritodrine may promote the proliferation of fetal hepatocytes through the stimulation of β
2-adrenergic receptors, followed by induction of deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0002-9378 1097-6868 |
DOI: | 10.1016/0002-9378(93)90518-N |