Retinoic acid modulates the asialoglycoprotein receptor expression in cultured fetal rat hepatocytes

The influence of retinoic acid on the expression of a typical marker of hep atocyte differentiation. i.e. the asialoglycoprotein receptor. has been stu died. Cultured hepatocytes. isolated From adult rats. a model of quiescent, mature cells and from 20-day-old fetuses. a model of proliferating and les s differentiated cells. were used. The asialoglycoprotein receptor expressi on appears to be affected by retinoic acid during prenatal life. both mRNA level and protein amount increased in fetal hepatocytes. but no modificatio n has been found in adult cells. suggesting a regulative effect of retinoic acid during prenatal life. acting at transcriptional and/or translational level. Surprisingly. the receptor binding activity of adult hepatocytes is decreased after retinoic acid treatment. indicating a possible further modu lation by this molecule on receptor activity at the post-translational leve l. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.