CAJ | 학술논문

Objective To investigate the relationship between expression of somatostatin receptors (SSTRs) and activation of rat hepatic stellate cell (HSC). Methods HSCs were isolated from rats by in situ perfusion and single-step density gradient centrifugation, and then SSTR1 ～5 mRNA levels in the differentiated first passage HSCs were detected by means of reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. On the other hand, hepatic fibrosis was induced in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats by carbon tetrachloride intoxication, and the expression of SSTR1 ～5 in normal as well as fibrotic liver was measured by immunohistochemical staining. Results SSTR mRNA and SSTR could not be found in freshly isolated rat HSCs and normal rat liver. But SSTR1～3 mRNA appeared as HSCs became wholly activated, and SSTR1 ～3 could also be identified on the membrane of activated HSCs in the perisinusoid space, fibrous septa, etc Conclusion The expression of SSTR1～3 in the rat HSC is closely related to its activation. This may reflect one of the main negative regulation mechanisms in the course of HSC activation.