Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on cholesterol and ascorbic acid metabolism in primary cultured rat hepatocytes

Urea formation, cell number, cellular protein content and tyrosine transaminase activity were not changed by PCB addition in cultured rat hepatocytes. These results indicate that these liver functions are similar to control levels despite the addition of PCBs. Our results show that primary cultured hepatocytes mimic partially the intact liver in relation to some responses to PCBs. In isolated hepatocytes as well as in vivo, PCBs increased in cellular ascorbic acid level, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase and UDP-glucuronyl transferase activities. Thus, the present results may suggest that the metabolic changes in vivo concerning ascorbic acid induced by dietary PCBs were primarily related to the direct effects of PCBs per se on liver parenchymal cells.