The acid phosphatases (ACP) and alkaline phosphatases (AKP) play an important role in function differentiation. The constitutive heat shock protein 70/inducedheat shock protein 68 (HSC70/HSP68) found in recent years are a group of key molecules involved in embryogenesis and cell survival. The proliferating cell nuclear antigens (PCNA) are a marker of cell proliferation. Dynamic changes of the ACP, AKP, HSC70/HSP68 and PCNA were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively in the growth and development of rat liver (from 14-day embryo to adult rat) by using histochemistry, immunohistochemistry, Western blot, renatured electrophoresis, stereologic method, etc. The results showed that there were two activity peaks of ACP in the phases of breast and intinial forage; that the first activity peak of ACP appeared while the activity of AKP decreased, but the second activity peak of ACP was consistent with AKP; that the activity peak of ACP was positively related with the peak of PCNA content; and that HSC70/HSP68 were expressed more in weaning and adult rat liver than in the other periods. Based on these results, was inferred that ACP and PCNA could play an important role in growth and development of rat liver through regulating cell proliferation, and AKP and HSC70/HSP68 can play an important role in cell survival, differentiation and function performing by regulating cell metabolism.
