Conditions influencing the induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation in cultured rat hepatocytes.

Leibovitz L-15 medium was superior to RPM11640 in both maintenance and induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation in cultured rat hepatocytes. Serum was not required for maintenance or induction of beta-oxidation. Cell plating density had only slight effects on maintenance and did not affect induction. Bezafibrate caused time- and dose-related increases in beta-oxidation, as well as increases in catalase, peroxisome volume fraction, and peroxisome number. This system maintained a greater percentage of control beta-oxidation than previously reported, and responded to several hypolipidemics with sizeable increases in activity. The flexibility of this system with respect to serum and cell-plating density facilitates simultaneous studies of cell parameters which are regulated by these variables.