Ontogeny of the glucocorticoid receptor and its relationship to tyrosine aminotransferase induction in cultured foetal hepatocytes

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Abstract
The glucocorticoid receptor activity that can be detected in the liver from 15-day fetal rats appears to be associated with the hemopoietic cells. In hepatocytes, purified by culture for 1-2 days from 15-day fetal rats, the glucocorticoid receptor activity is low and dexamethasone does not induce the enzyme tyrosine aminotransferase. If culture is continued, receptor activity and steroid responsiveness are acquired. Cultured hepatocytes from 19-day fetal liver receptor from the 1st day of culture and the subsequent level of response to glucocorticoids is directly correlated to the actual receptor concentration. Apparently, the glucocorticoid receptor is not acquired by hepatocytes until after 18 days of gestation. The fact that bromodeoxyuridine has no effect on the rate of accumulation of receptor in hepatocytes suggests that the differentiative event leading to the subsequent appearance of the receptor has already occurred before day 15 of gestation. Apparently, the acquisition of the receptor is dependent on mitosis since cytosine arabinoside can inhibit the process.