Effects of antibiotics on protein synthesis and degradation in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes.

In primary hepatocyte cultures, maintained in a protein-free medium, streptomycin, penicillin, and Garamycin (gentamicin) all inhibited protein synthesis at concentrations above 0.1 mM. Some inhibition was also observed with the fungicide Mycostatin at 100 U/ml. Hepatocytic protein degradation was markedly inhibited by penicillin fat concentrations above 0.1 mM, whereas streptomycin and Garamycin only showed slight inhibition at concentrations in excess of 1 mM. None of the antibiotics had any detectable effect on the structural integrity (viability) of the cells.