Effects of hormones on the maintenance and mitochondrial functions of rat hepatocytes cultured in serum-free medium

The survival and morphology of rat hepatocytes were examined in primary cell cultures that were maintained in serum-free medium supplemented with different hormones. Insulin and dexamethasone improved survival and maintenance of normal epithelial-shaped cells, although triiodothyronine did not alter cell survival or morphology when added to the medium alone or with other hormones. The level of mitochondrial α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase and cytochromes a(+ a3), b and c, but not c1, were increased in cultured hepatocytes by triiodothyronine. Although induction of α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase did not require serum or growth hormone, the triiodothyronine effect was potentiated by insulin plus dexamethasone. This permissive effect of dexamethasone parallels its known glucocorticoid action of increasing the activity of the gluconeogenic enzyme tyrosine aminotransferase in the cultured hepatocytes. Glucagon, which also elevated tyrosine aminotransferase activity, had no effect upon the induction of α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase by triiodothyronine. Since the culture medium was completely defined and triiodothyronine did not alter survival or morphology of the hepatocytes, the effects upon mitochondrial functions are direct cellular actions of the thyroid hormone.