PERITUBULAR ENDOTHELIAL-CELL PROLIFERATION IN MICE DURING COMPENSATORY RENAL GROWTH AFTER UNILATERAL NEPHRECTOMY

The proliferation of peritubular endothelial cells during compensatory renal growth (CRG) following unilateral nephrectomy in mice was inves tigated using a labeling index. The labeling index of peritubular endo thelial cells increased 6 h after uninephrectomy and decreased to the normal level within 72 h. Immunohistochemical study revealed that c-my c protein was expressed in the nuclei of both cortical tubular cells a nd peritubular endothelial cells. Furthermore, intravenous injection o f anti-basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) neutralizing antibody jus t after uninephrectomy led to significant inhibition of proliferation of peritubular endothelial cells, but not tubular cells. These results indicate that peritubular endothelial cells proliferate transiently d uring CRG and that bFGF plays an important role for the growth regulat ion of that cell in the kidney.