EXPRESSION OF THE ASIALOGLYCOPROTEIN RECEPTOR IN CULTURED RAT HEPATOCYTES IS MODULATED BY CELL-DENSITY

The influence of cell density on expression of the asialoglycoprotein receptor system in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes was evaluated b y measuring the level of the receptor specific mRNA. When the hepatocy tes are cultured at high cellular density and are not in a proliferati ve condition, the transcript molecules of the receptor appear increase d about 50% with respect to the low plating density, indicating a modu lation of asialoglycoprotein receptor expression at transcriptional le vel. Such control may be dependent on surface molecules involved in ce ll specific reassociation, since it is well known that cell contacts p lay a significant regulatory role in differentiated cells.