Prostaglandin cytoprotection of galactosamine-incubated hepatocytes isolated from young and old rats.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of aging on cytoprotective properties of prostaglandins. Hepatocytes were obtained by collagenase perfusion of livers of young (4-6 mo) and old (24-28 mo) male Wistar rats. Cells were incubated for 1.5 h in Krebs-Ringer-bicarbonate buffer containing glucose and 3H-leucine in the presence of galactosamine (2.5-100 mM), PGE1, or two prostacyclin analogues: 9 beta-methylcarbacyclin and TRK-100. Cell damage was assessed by decrease in the rate of protein synthesis measured as 3H-leucine incorporation into acid precipitable material, and by increase in lactate dehydrogenase release into the medium. Hepatocytes from old rats were more susceptible to suppression of protein synthesis by GalN than cells of young ones. Preincubation of cells for 15 min with 9MC (41-560 nM) or PGE1 (10-100 nM), but not with TRK-100, before adding 10 mM GalN, led to a partial recovery of protein synthesis in both age groups. GalN increased LDH release and decreased ATP/ADP ratio to a similar extent in hepatocytes of young and old rats; both parameters were not altered by preincubation of cells with PGs. PGE1 and 9MC, but not TRK-100, elevated cyclic AMP content in hepatocytes of young but not old rats. Glucagon and forskolin similarly increased cyclic AMP content in cells of both young and old animals. These in vitro results suggest that PGE1 and some prostacyclin analogues might protect hepatocytes of both young and old rats from chemical damage, and stress the necessity for further research on cyto- and hepato-protection in the elderly.