Intercellular communication and cell proliferation in precision-cut rat liver slices: effect of medium composition and DDT

Gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and cell proliferation we re studied in control and 1,1'-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-2,2,2,-trichloroethane ( DDT) treated precision-cut liver slices of rat by evaluating connexin 32 (C x32) expression and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. In additi on, the effect of different culture media (RPMI and WME) on control and DDT influenced Cx32 expression and cell proliferation was determined. Cx32 exp ression in control precision-cut liver slices was maintained during 8 h of culturing, but decreased after prolonged culturing. Control cell proliferat ion was significantly higher when WME was used as culture medium than when RPMI was used. In slices treated with DDT Cx32 expression was decreased. Tn slices cultured in RPMI medium, this decrease preceded a dose-dependent in crease in cell proliferation. These results show the usefulness of precisio n-cut liver slices in studying cellular proliferation and intercellular com munication. (C) 2000 published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.