J G DeLamatre, J T Schilleci, L H Hanson – 1 September 1996 – This study investigates the effects of either a high‐fat diet or endotoxin on peroxisome metabolism as assessed by measuring catalase activity, catalase mass, and peroxisomal β‐oxidation. Three mouse strains C3H/HeJ, BALB/c, and C57BL/6J were fed either a low‐fat or a high‐fat diet and injected intraperitoneally with 1 microg Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. These parameters were not different in C3H/HeJ mice fed a high‐fat diet compared with controls fed a low‐fat diet.

J Chen, W Song, R N Redinger – 1 August 1996 – The effect of 2‐week 2% cholesterol vs. chow feeding on regulation of hepatic lipoprotein, lipids and apoprotein (Apo), and biliary lipids production was evaluated by the isolated perfused hamster liver model. Cholesterol feeding did not change very‐low‐density lipoprotein (VLDL), low‐density lipoprotein (LDL), and high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) particle size but significantly increased the hepatic production of VLDL‐cholesterol fourfold, VLDL‐triglyceride two and one‐half‐fold but not phospholipid in VLDL.

M A Dingemanse, W J De Jonge, P A J De Boer, M Mori, W H Lamers, A F Moorman – 1 August 1996 – Ammonia‐fixation in mammalian livers is, via the ornithine cycle and glutamine synthetase, strictly compartmentalized, occurring in a wide upstream periportal compartment and in the very last downstream pericentral hepatocytes, respectively. This conclusion is based on the well‐known distribution patterns of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase I (CPS) and glutamine synthetase in the developing and adult liver.

T Knittel, T Janneck, L Muller, P Fellmer, G Ramadori – 1 August 1996 – During liver fibrogenesis, Ito cells are regarded as the principal matrix synthesizing cells and transforming growth factor β 1 (TGF‐β 1) appears to be the main fibrogenic mediator. This study analyzed the effects of TGF‐β 1 on Ito cell activation, proliferation, and on the expression of a set of matrix proteins, antiproteases, and TGF‐β receptors both in “early cultured” and “culture‐activated” Ito cells.

E Windler, J Greeve, H Robenek, F Rinninger, H Greten, S Jäckle – 1 August 1996 – Initial binding and subsequent endocytosis of small and large chylomicron remnants by rat liver were compared. Small and large chylomicrons were obtained from mesenteric lymph of glucose‐ or fat‐fed rats, respectively. The low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor was up‐ and down‐regulated as shown by LDL receptor messenger RNA (mRNA). The rate of removal of small chylomicron remnants by isolated perfused rat livers followed closely the activity of the LDL receptor.

1 August 1996

T Miyamura – 1 August 1996

G Juan, R Gil‐Benso, J E O'Connor, R C Callaghan – 1 August 1996 – Recently, we have developed a new and fast kinetic method for assessing mitochondrial membrane potential by flow cytometry, based on the quantitation of the initial rate of rhodamine 123 (Rh123) uptake by living cells. This test has proved suitable to detect metabolic and toxic effects on mitochondria. To characterize energy metabolism in a rat hepatoma cell line (N13), we applied this method to assess several metabolic pathways that eventually generate mitochondrial membrane potential.

T Schricker, G Albuszies, H Weidenbach, K Beckh, H Ensinger, T Anhäupl, P Radermacher, J Vogt, G Adler, M Georgieff – 1 August 1996 – The cirrhotic liver has been shown to be resistant to the actions of various glucoregulatory hormones. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of epinephrine on hepatic glucose metabolism in cirrhotic patients. Thirteen cirrhotic and eight healthy subjects were studied.

M Sterneck, S Gunther, T Santantonio, L Fischer, C E Broelsch, H Greten, H Will – 1 August 1996 – The pathogenesis of fulminant hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between specific viral variants and a fulminant disease course. The entire HBV genomes from the serum of eight patients with fulminant HBV infection and one patient with fulminant hepatitis during reinfection after liver transplantation were investigated.