Fig. 3

Mest induces a cell enlargement and trans-differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells into hepatocyte-like cells. A The distribution ratio of 3T3-L1 mock-transfected cells and Mest overexpression cells with different cell surface area (µm²). The individual cell surface area was obtained from eight representative fields of view. B The expression levels of Mest, albumin (ALB) and a-fetoprotein (AFP), which are hepatocyte specific marker genes, and 36B4 as housekeeping gene in 3T3-L1 mock-transfected cells (mock), and 3T3-L1-Mest (Mest). C 3T3-L1 mock-transfected cells (mock) and 3T3-L1-Mest cells (Mest) were treated with 1 µM dexamethasone (DEX) in DMEM containing 10% FBS for four days, and then the medium was replaced and treated with DMEM containing 10% FBS for four more days. Intracellular glycogen accumulation and nuclear were stained by Periodic Acid Schiff (PAS, purple-red) and hematoxylin (purple-blue), respectively. The squares indicate high-magnification image of the dotted area. (Scale bar = 100 µm)