EFFECTS OF THE DELETED FORM OF HEPATOCYTE GROWTH-FACTOR ON SERUM HYALURONATE LEVELS IN RATS WITH LIVER-CIRRHOSIS

Effects of the deleted form of hepatocyte growth factor (dHGF) on seru m hyaluronate levels, an index for liver cirrhosis, were studied in ra ts. The levels of serum hyaluronate increased in rats with dimethylnit rosamine- or carbontetrachloride-induced cirrhotic liver with prolonga tion of prothrombin time, which indicates disorder of liver function. Daily intravenous injection of dHGF reduced the elevated serum hyaluro nate levels with improvement of the prolonged prothrombin time. These results suggest that the amelioration of hepatic function disorder by dHGF leads to a reduction of the increased serum hyaluronate levels.