[Hepatocyte receptors for polymerized albumin. Experimental study on isolated hepatocytes and in vivo animals]

In the present work receptors for polymerized rat serum albumin (P-RSA) were studied by incubation of radiolabelled polymers with rat hepatocytes isolated with mechanical techniques. Isolated rat hepatocytes showed a receptor activity for polymerized albumin and such a membrane receptor seems to be controlled by the cellular cytoskeleton. During rat total body scintigraphy receptor expression was detected exclusively in the liver. These observations support the hypothesis of a selective receptor activity of the liver cells for polymerized albumin. To confirm our results, further studies were performed on rat bile, after 125I-P-RSA infusion in vivo.