Tyrosine transaminase induction by dexamethasone in a new rat liver cell line.

A cell line derived from normal, adult rat liver has been established; the cells are similar to hepatocytes, as shown by electron microscopy. The addition of dexamethasone to the culture medium induced a three- to sixfold increase in the specific activity of tyrosine alpha-ketoglutarate transaminase; this increase was inhibited by the simultaneous addition of cycloheximide or actinomycin D. The latter, when added to cells given prior treatment with dexamethasone, further enhanced the transaminase activity. Contact-inhibited cells showed a lower response to dexamethasone than exponentially growing cells.