Effects of insulin and dexamethasone on adenine nucleotide levels in cultured hepatocytes from adult rat.

Insulin and dexamethasone, usually added to culture media, play an important role in maintaining the survival of functional hepatocytes. Adenine nucleotide concentrations and energy charge values of cultured hepatocytes were determined to investigate the relationship between the beneficial effects of these hormones and the energy status of the cells. The results indicate that insulin and dexamethasone are essential in maintaining the metabolic competence of cultured hepatocytes and that this correlates with the absolute concentration of ATP rather than with the energy charge.