Secretion of lecithin: cholesterol acyltransferase from isolated rat hepatocytes.

1. Lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase is secreted from isolated rat heptocytes. 2. The secretion is stimulated when serum is added to the incubation medium. 3. Optimal conditions for secretion are: 5-10(6) hepatocytes per ml, 5 h incubation, pH 7.3-7.4 and 25% serum in the incubation medium. 4. Concomitantly with the secretion of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase there is a secretion of unesterified cholesterol and triacylglycerol. 5. Colchicine or cycloheximide in the incubation medium inhibits secretion of lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase.