Reciprocal regulation of adult rat hepatocyte growth and functional activities in culture by dimethyl sulfoxide.

Hepatocyte DNA synthesis, initiated by epidermal growth factor (EGF), is reversibly inhibited by 2% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). At that concentration, both the survival of the cells in culture and the expression of differentiated functions are prolonged. DMSO does not affect thymidine uptake or EGF receptor binding. Moreover, EGF receptor binding is maintained at 84% of initial 12 hr binding when cells are cultured for several days in the presence of DMSO, whereas specific receptor binding declines to 49% of initial binding under standard culture conditions without DMSO. Studies of hepatocyte functional activity indicate that, during early culture, total cellular export protein synthesis, specific albumin synthesis, and glycogen synthesis are enhanced in the presence of DMSO. Dexamethasone is required for the effect of DMSO on survival, and although dexamethasone alone enhances hepatocyte DNA synthesis in the presence of EGF, it does not reverse the inhibitory effect of 2% DMSO on DNA replication. The correlation of prolonged survival with growth inhibition supports the hypothesis that hepatic growth and differentiated functional activity may be reciprocally regulated.