Hepatocyte growth factor may function as a renotropic factor for regeneration in rats with acute renal injury

The expression of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in RNA and HGF activity in the rat kidney after acute renal failure was studied to explore the renotropic role of HGF. A DNA synthesis took place mainly in the renal tubular cells in the outer medulla, which peak 48 hours after the treatments, when ischemia or the administration of HgCl2 caused acute renal failure. HGF may operate as a renotropic factor during renal regeneration after acute renal injury induced by HgCl2 administration or ischemia. This is because of the activation of renal regenration of HGF injection in vivo, and the significant and quick enhancements in HGF mRNA and HGF activity that occur prior to tubular cell proliferation.