Study of LDL Pathway in Isolated and Cultured Rat Hepatocytes

Abstract

Assay system of LDL receptor in rat hepatocytes using human LDL has been developed.
¹²⁵I-LDL association to hepatocytes and its degradation were measured at 37°C for 5 hours. About 50% of the associated ¹²⁵I-LDL was degraded both in isolated as well as cultured hepatocytes. Binding accounted for 50% of the association.
In cultured rat hepatocytes, cell association and degradation of ¹²⁵I-LDL decreased to 50% and 40% compared with isolated rat hepatocytes respectively, and binding also decreased to 50%. From the result of scatchard analysis, LDL receptor numbers decreased in cultured hepatocytes to 50% compared with that in isolated hepatocytes, while affinity did not change.