title: Deleted form of hepatocyte growth factor (dHGF) increases the number of platelets in rats with liver cirrhosis.
abstract: The effect of the deleted form of hepatocyte growth factor (dHGF) on thrombopoiesis 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 dHGF (0.5 mg/kg i.v. twice daily) significantly increased the number of platelets in rats with liver cirrhosis induced by carbon tetrachloride 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 liver cirrhosis to day 28, dHGF dose-dependently ameliorated thrombocytopenia and completely prevented it at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg. These results indicate that dHGF may be applicable to the treatment of thrombocytopenia associated with liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Life Science Research Institute, Snow Brand Milk Products Co., Ltd., Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masunaga
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fujise
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shiota
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yasuda
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Higashio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects; D008106:Liver Cirrhosis, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D010976:Platelet Count / Q000187:drug effects*; D011517:Prothrombin Time; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013154:Spleen / Q000187:drug effects; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor; D002251:Carbon Tetrachloride; D004128:Dimethylnitrosamine