Pyruvate promotion of DNA synthesis in serum-free primary cultures of adult rat hepatocytes.

Pyruvate (2 to 60 mM), acting alone and in conjunction with insulin and epidermal growth factor (EGF), enhances DNA synthesis in primary monolayer cultures of adult rat liver parenchymal cells. Lactate can replace pyruvate in stimulating DNA synthesis. Several other intermediary metabolites (oxaloacetate, alpha-ketoglutarate, alpha-ketobutyrate, succinate, fumarate, and malate), though less potent than pyruvate and lactate, also elevate DNA synthesis, whereas alanine at similar concentrations is inhibitory.