Small hepatocytes are cells that express characteristic phenotypes such as a high growth potential and differentiation capacity. In order to identify rat-small-hepatocyte specific proteins, we separated the cellular protein: of isolated small and parenchymal hepatocytes by 2D polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Comparison of their profiles revealed a protein with a molecular mass of 37 kDa in the small hepatocytes that was not present in the parenchymal hepatocytes. Proteolytic peptide mass fingerprinting was used to identify the protein and it was found to be annexin III. The validity of the identification was confirmed by Western blot analysis with anti-annexin III antibody. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.