# HEPATIC OVAL CELLS IN CULTURE AND IN VIVO

> **NIH NIH R01** · VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY · 1988 · $142,591

## Abstract

At present, little is directly known about what factors influence
bile ductular epithelial cell proliferation, differentiation, and
transformation In Vivo and in culture.  Furthermore, there is
virtually nothing known of the capability of the bile ductular
epithelial cell to metabolize and activate chemical
procarcinogens, nor has there been evidence to date which
uniquivocally demonstrates the role the bile ductular cell may
play as a "faculative stem cell" during chemical
hepatocarcinogenesis.  In this regard, this current continuation
proposal deals with the further development and characterization
of novel primary and secondary cultures of well differentiated
bile ductular epithelial cells isolated from noncarcinogen-treated
rat livers.  Important factors to be evaluated for the development
of these cultures include those of substratum and specific growth
regulatory substances.  In addition, efforts will be made to assess
the neoplastic transformation of these cells following their
exposures in culture to a selected direct-acting carcinogen, as
well as to some that require metabolic activation.  Properties of
the chemically-transformed cells will then be compared with
those transformed following transfection with the H-ras
oncogene.  An extrahepatic transplantation model will be further
developed to investigate the effects of various treatments on the
growth and differentiation of both hyperplastic and neoplastic bile
ductular cells.  In this regard, it is anticipated that these studies
will result in the development of a new in culture/in vivo cell
model applicable to the characterization of patterns of cellular
differentiation, proliferation, and carcinogenesis exhibited by a
unique epithelial cell type.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3177999
- **Project number:** 2R01CA039225-04
- **Recipient organization:** VIRGINIA COMMONWEALTH UNIVERSITY
- **SAM.gov UEI:** MLQFL4JSSAA9
- **Principal Investigator:** ALPHONSE E SIRICA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1988
- **Award amount:** $142,591
- **Award type:** 2
- **Project period:** 1984-07-01 → 1990-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3177999

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3177999, HEPATIC OVAL CELLS IN CULTURE AND IN VIVO (2R01CA039225-04). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3177999. Licensed CC0.

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