title: The role of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) at progressive stages of metanephric development.
abstract: Several lines of evidence suggest that hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), a soluble protein secreted by mesenchymal cells, may elicit a morphogenic response in the developing metanephros. We investigated the role of HGF at three different stages of murine metanephric development utilizing serum-free organ culture. Cultures were initiated at E-13, E-15, and E-17; treated with exogenous HGF or antibodies to HGF (to block endogenous HGF) for 120 h in vitro; and evaluated for growth and differentiation in comparison to control explants cultured for 120 h in basal medium. HGF treatment of E-13 explants resulted in a reduction of growth and differentiation compared to control explants. Treatment of E-13 explants with antibodies to HGF produced explant growth and differentiation indistinguishable from control explants. In contrast to the results of E-13 cultures, explants initiated at E-15 and E-17 demonstrated an increased growth and differentiation profile when treated with HGF compared to controls. Treatment of E-15 and E-17 explants with antibodies to HGF resulted in a decrease growth and differentiation profile compared to control or HGF-treated explants. These data demonstrate that HGF has differential effects on renal morphogenesis at progressive developmental stages of metanephric development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Sweeney
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Avner
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques
chemical_list: D017228:Hepatocyte Growth Factor