Study on the Effects of Microcystin-LR on Primary Cultured Hepatocyte

To study the mechanism of the effects of microcystin-LR on hepatocytes proliferation,dedifferentiation,cell cycle and apoptosis. In this study,MTT test,image analysis and flow cytometry were applied to assess the cell proliferation,cell spreading,cell cycle and apoptosis of primary cultured hepatocytes exposed to 0,0.1,1.0 or 10.0 μg/L MC-LR. Cell proliferation and cell spreading were promoted in a time and dose dependent manner following exposure to microcystin-LR. The accelerate rates of cell proliferation in the three tested groups were 102.47%,107.88% and 111.52%,respectively,compared with that of control group. Cell spreading ahead of schedule was detected in the tested groups and the means of cell surface in the tested groups increased as well. Synchronously,typical apoptotic changes as well as synchronization at the G 2/M-phase were both detected in the tested groups,the apoptosis rates of control group and the tested groups were 6.47%,22.20%,37.73% and 49.7%,respectively. [Conclusion] The results suggested that microcystin could affect hepatocyte cycles,and induce cell dedifferentiation and proliferation as well as cycle block,which might lead to cell apoptosis.