Ethanol inhibits hormone stimulated hepatocyte DNA synthesis

Insulin, glucagon, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) addition stimulated DNA synthesis in primary hepatocyte cell cultures prepared from adult rat liver. The addition of ethanol (20-200mM) to the culture medium resulted in a substantial reduction in DNA synthesis as measured by 3H-thymidine incorporation and autoradiography. This effect was specific for differentiated hepatocytes compared to fibroblasts and two other human hepatoma cell lines. These studies demonstrate in a cell culture system that one of the major properties of ethanol is the inhibition of hepatocyte DNA synthesis.