Cell density dependent uptake of LDL in cultured rat hepatocytes.

An inverse relationship between low-density lipoprotein uptake and cell density was observed in rat hepatocyte monolayers incubated with lipoprotein-deficient serum. This was also true for cell association, binding and degradation of low-density lipoproteins. Compactin stimulated cell association and degradation of low-density lipoproteins both at low and high concentrations. Insulin, on the other hand, had no consistent effect on low-density lipoprotein cell association or degradation.