Liver growth factor antifibrotic activity in vivo is associated with a decrease in activation of hepatic stellate cells.

The antifibrotic activity of Liver Growth Factor (LGF), a liver mitogen, was previously demonstrated in several models of rat liver fibrosis and even in extrahepatic sites, such as carotid artery in hypertensive rats and rat CdCl2-induced lung fibrosis. In the present study, we have attempted to examine in depth its mechanism of antifibrotic action in bile duct-ligated (BDL) rats, with special emphasis on its activity in fibrogenic liver cells. BDL rats received either LGF 9 microg/week for 2 or 3 weeks (BDL+LGF, n=20/group) or saline (BDL+S, n=20/group), at times 0, week 2, or week 5 after operation.

The anti-fibrotic effect of liver growth factor is associated with decreased intrahepatic levels of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and transforming growth factor beta 1 in bile duct-ligated rats.

Liver growth factor (LGF), a mitogen for liver cells, behaves as an anti-fibrotic agent even in extrahepatic sites, but its mechanistic basis is unknown. We aimed to determine the intrahepatic expression pattern of key modulators of liver fibrosis in bile duct-ligated rats (BDL) after injection of LGF. BDL rats received either LGF (4.

Effects of maternal adrenalectomy on the developing dopaminergic system.

The present study show that maternal adrenalectomy affect the developmental model of the dopaminergic system in the hypothalamus and hippocampus, with sexual dimorphism observed in both areas. No changes were observed in the developmental dopamine (DA) model of the cortex and striatum through dopamine levels were increased in striatum.

The mitogenic activity of the liver growth factor is mediated by tumor necrosis factor alpha in rat liver.

Background/aims: Liver growth factor (LGF) is a hepatic mitogen, however, the hepatic stimulation pathway remains to be characterized. The aim of this study was to determine whether tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) stimulation constitutes a step in the mitogenic pathway of LGF.

Methods: Rats were injected with 4.