Effect of glucocorticoids on the expression of gamma-glutamyltransferase and tyrosine aminotransferase in serum-free-cultured hepatocytes.

Glucocorticoids exert a known beneficial effect on cultured hepatocytes when present in culture medium, maintaining their polygonal morphology and ultrastructural organization throughout the days of culture. Parallel to this excellent morphology, hepatocytes cultured in serum-free conditions, but with continuous presence of Dexamethasone, retained after a week the ability to express tyrosine aminotransferase when stimulated by glucagon and glucocorticoids. The rise of gamma-glutamyltransferase was blocked in cultures supplemented by Dexamethasone.