Hormonal regulation of plasminogen activator production by rat hepatocytes in primary culture

Hormonal regulation in the production of a plasminogen activator (PA) was studied in rat hepatocytes in primary culture. Insulin and epidermal growth factor had no effect on the hepatic PA activity. However, glucagon and epinephrine augmented the activity, whereas dexamethasone suppressed it by lowering the production of hepatic PA rather than by inducing plasmin inhibitors or a plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI). Dibutyryl cAMP, an analogue of cAMP, also augmented hepatic PA activity. The augmented activity level was lowered by either H-8, cycloheximide, or actinomycin D, suggesting that A-kinase and protein biosynthesis are closely associated with the augmentation. Glucocorticoid and hormones that act to raise the intracellular cAMP level may participate in hepatic PA production by the liver.