H. Masunaga et al., DELETED FORM OF HEPATOCYTE GROWTH-FACTOR (DHGF) INCREASES THE NUMBER OF PLATELETS IN RATS WITH LIVER-CIRRHOSIS, Liver, 17(4), 1997, pp. 192-197
The effect of the deleted form of hepatocyte growth factor (dHGF) on t
hrombopoiesis was studied in rats. When normal rats were injected with
dHGF (0.5 mg/kg i.v. twice a day), the number of platelets increased
to about 1.5-fold the initial level. In addition, the treatment with d
HGF (0.5 mg/kg i.v. twice daily) significantly increased the number of
platelets in rats with liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachlorid
e and phenobarbital. When dHGF was given to rats at a dose of 0.05 or
0.5 mg/kg from the beginning of the induction of dimethylnitrosamine l
iver cirrhosis to day 28, dHGF dose-dependently ameliorated thrombocyt
openia and completely prevented it at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg. These resul
ts indicate that dHGF may be applicable to the treatment of thrombocyt
openia associated with liver cirrhosis.