INDUCTION OF PLASMA HEPATOCYTE GROWTH-FACTOR IN ACUTE COLITIS OF MICE

Objective and Design: The study examined plasma levels of hepatocyte g rowth factor (HGF) in acute colitis models on mice. Materials: Acute c olitis was induced in male FVB mice (about 25 g) by intrarectal admini stration of 200 mu l of 0.5% acetic acid. Methods: Plasma was taken at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h after acetic acid treatment. Plasma HGF wa s measured by an enzyme immunoassay in duplicate. Results: Plasma leve ls of HGF at 0, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 72 h after acetic acid administrati on were 0.31 +/- 0.11 ng/ml (n = 4), 0.45 +/- 0.04 ng/ml (n = 4), 0.46 +/- 0.13 ng/ml (n = 4), 0.71 +/- 0.22 ng/ml (n = 4), 0.82 +/- 0.15 ng /ml (n = 4) and 0.44 +/- 0.04 ng/ml (n = 4), respectively. Significant increases in plasma HGF levels were observed at 36 and 48 h after the treatment (p < 0.05, compared to at 0 h). Conclusions: Plasma HGF was induced by acute inflammation of colonic tissues. These findings sugg est that HGF in blood may be one of the non-specific markers of inflam mation in mice.