Suppressive effect of growth hormone on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor in cultured rat hepatocytes

The effect of growth (GH) and thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine, T3) on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR alpha) was examined using Northern blotting in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Exposure of the hepatocytes to GH at the concentrations of 5-500 ng/ml for 1 day decreased the steady state level of PPAR mRNA by 20-30% compared with the control. The decrease in the mRNA level reached about 50% after a 5-day exposure to 50 or 500 ng/ml GH. However, the PPAR mRNA level was increased by 30-50% in hepatocytes exposed to T3 at 30 or 300 nM. These findings suggest the suppression of PPAR expression as a possible mechanism for the GH-mediated suppression of the induction of peroxisomal beta-oxidation caused by peroxisome proliferators (PPs), whereas T3 may act in the other way to exert its suppressive effect on the PP induction of peroxisomal enzymes.