Early loss of P450 in rat hepatocyte cultures appears directly related to nitric oxide (NO) overproduction. This study provides experimental evidence for the induction – shortly after isolation through the classical procedure – of strong oxidative stress that involves both oxygen-derived and NO-derived species. NO formation at this stage is due to the early activation of liver constitutive NO synthase (cNOS). Immunodetection of nitrated proteins provides direct evidence of endogenous peroxynitrite (PN) formation upon hepatocyte isolation. On the basis of the combined use of dihydrorhodamine 123 and NOS inhibitors, the analysis of the amount, time course and nature of the species involved supports the view that PN generated from cNOS-derived NO, while not affecting cell viability and hepatocyte monolayer development, is the main species likely responsible for the early biochemical injury commonly observed in hepatocyte cultures.
