PMID- 9195374
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 19970805
LR  - 20231213
IS  - 0815-9319 (Print)
IS  - 0815-9319 (Linking)
VI  - 12
IP  - 4
DP  - 1997 Apr
TI  - Dimethylsulfoxide maintains intercellular communication by preserving the gap 
      junctional protein connexin32 in primary cultured hepatocyte doublets from rats.
PG  - 325-30
AB  - Intercellular communication via gap junctions is one of the differentiated 
      functions of cells. Dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) is known to induce cell 
      differentiation and maintain differentiated cellular functions in primary 
      hepatocyte culture, but the mechanism of action of DMSO is unknown. Therefore, we 
      investigated the effect of DMSO on cell-cell communication via gap junctions of 
      hepatocyte doublets, which are differentiated cells that lose differentiated 
      functions with time in culture. In isolated rat hepatocyte doublets, we assessed 
      the effects of 1, 2 and 3% DMSO in culture medium on morphological changes and 
      dye-coupling activity between pairs of cells by microinjection with fluorescent 
      dye (Lucifer Yellow CH). The distribution of gap junction protein connexin32 
      (Cx32) was assessed by indirect immunofluorescence analysis and the Cx32 mRNA was 
      detected by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction method. 
      Dimethylsulfoxide delayed the morphological change of hepatocyte doublets from a 
      spherical to a flattened shape. Dye-coupling efficiency significantly decreased 
      with time in culture in the control group, whereas in groups treated with 2 and 
      3% DMSO, dye-coupling efficiency was retained after 6 and 9 h of inoculation (P < 
      0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Analysis by indirect immunofluorescence showed 
      few fluorescent spots for Cx32 in the control group at 9 h of incubation, whereas 
      many punctate fluorescent spots were seen in the 3% DMSO group at 9 h of 
      incubation. The detection of Cx32 mRNA in the 3% DMSO group was also stronger 
      than in controls. Dimethylsulfoxide significantly maintained intercellular 
      communication via gap junctions in primary cultured rat hepatocytes through the 
      preservation of functional Cx32 protein, thus maintaining cell differentiation.
FAU - Yoshizawa, T
AU  - Yoshizawa T
AD  - Department of Gastroenterology, Juntendo University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, 
      Japan.
FAU - Watanabe, S
AU  - Watanabe S
FAU - Hirose, M
AU  - Hirose M
FAU - Miyazaki, A
AU  - Miyazaki A
FAU - Sato, N
AU  - Sato N
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - Australia
TA  - J Gastroenterol Hepatol
JT  - Journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
JID - 8607909
RN  - 0 (Connexins)
RN  - 0 (RNA, Messenger)
RN  - YOW8V9698H (Dimethyl Sulfoxide)
SB  - IM
MH  - Animals
MH  - Cell Communication/*drug effects
MH  - Cell Differentiation/drug effects
MH  - Cells, Cultured
MH  - Connexins/biosynthesis/*physiology
MH  - Dimethyl Sulfoxide/*pharmacology
MH  - Female
MH  - Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
MH  - Gap Junctions/*drug effects/physiology
MH  - Liver/*cytology
MH  - Microscopy, Fluorescence
MH  - Polymerase Chain Reaction
MH  - RNA, Messenger/genetics
MH  - Rats
MH  - Rats, Wistar
MH  - Gap Junction beta-1 Protein
EDAT- 1997/04/01 00:00
MHDA- 1997/04/01 00:01
CRDT- 1997/04/01 00:00
PHST- 1997/04/01 00:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 1997/04/01 00:01 [medline]
PHST- 1997/04/01 00:00 [entrez]
AID - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1997.tb00429.x [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 1997 Apr;12(4):325-30. doi: 
      10.1111/j.1440-1746.1997.tb00429.x.