Galactosamine-induced apoptosis in the primary mouse hepatocyte cultures

Galactosamine (GalN)-induced apoptosis was investigated in cultured hepatocytes from mice. The percentage of fragmented DNA measured by the ELISA method increased in a concentration-dependent manner from the very early stage, i.e. 0.5 hrs, after GalN-exposure. In addition, a ladder-like fragmentation pattern by agarose gel electrophoresis appeared first at 3 hr-exposure to 20 mM GalN, at 6 hr-exposure to 10 mM GalN and at 12 hr-exposure to 5 mM GalN, respectively. On the other hand, cytotoxicity indicated by leakage of lactate dehydrogenase from cultured hepatocytes to culture medium was first detected at 24 hrs after GalN-treatment. Morphologically, formation of blebs and apoptotic bodies was observed from 12 hr-exposure to 20 mM GalN and from 24 hr-exposure to 10 mM GalN, respectively. Thus GalN could induce apoptosis in primary hepatocyte cultures from mice.