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. 2003 Mar;9(3):544-6.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i3.544.

A selective tropism of transfused oval cells for liver

Jian-Zhi Chen  1 , Hai Hong, Jin Xiang, Ling Xue, Guo-Qiang Zhao
Affiliations

A selective tropism of transfused oval cells for liver

Jian-Zhi Chen et al. World J Gastroenterol. 2003 Mar.

Abstract

Aim: To explore the biological behaviors of hepatic oval cells after transfused into the circulation of experimental animals.

Methods: Oval cells from male SD rat were transfused into the circulation of a female rat which were treated by a 2-AAF/CCl(4) program, through caudal vein. Sex-determining gene sry which located on Y chromosome was examined by PCR and in situ hybridization technique in liver, kidney and spleen of the experimental animals, respectively.

Results: The results of the cell-transplant experiment showed that the sry gene was detectable only in the liver but not in spleen and kidney of the experimental rats, and no signals could be detected in the control animals. It can be also morphologically proved that some exogenous cells had migrated into the parenchyma of the liver and settled there.

Conclusion: The result means that there are exogenous cells located in the liver of the experimental animal and the localization is specific to the liver. This indicates that some "signal molecules" must exist in the circulation of the rats treated by 2-AAF/CCl(4). These "signal molecules" might play an important role in specific localization and differentiation of transfused oval cells.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PCR signals of sry gene in experimental groups. (M. 100 bp DNA marker; 1. Liver(M): liver of male rat as a positive control; 2. Liver(E): liver of female rat in experimental group; 3. Spleen(E): spleen of female rat in experimental group; 4. Kidney(E): kidney of female rat in experimental group; 5. Liver (C): liver of female rat in control group; 6. Spleen(C): spleen of female rat in control group; 7. Kidney(C): kidney of female rat in control group; 8. Liver(F): liver of female rat negative control).
Figure 2
Figure 2
In situ hybridization assay of sry gene in liver. A. Experimental group, Liver of female rat undergoing oval cell-transplanting. A cluster of cells with sry gene marker could be seen in the parenchyma of liver. B. Negative control group, liver of normal female rat. No hybridization signals could be seen. C. Positive control group, liver of normal male rat. Each cell with distinct hybridization signals.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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