Abstract
The existence in plasma of partially hepatectomized rats of a factor that stimulates mitosis in the liver of normal rats was first demonstrated by 3 groups: Christensen and Jacobsen(1), Bucher et al(2), and Wenneker and Sussman(3). Subsequent work confirmed these findings(4-6) and also demonstrated that after partial hepatectomy mitosis is stimulated in other tissues as well as in the liver (6); this finding suggested a possible relationship between this mitosis-stimulating factor and the mechanism of control of normal cell division and organ size(7). These studies led to attempts to demonstrate and identify in the plasma of hepatectomized rats such a mitosis-stimulating factor or factors. The results reported in the literature are conflicting, with findings indicating that the administration of serum obtained from partially hepatectomized rats (a) stimulates mitosis in the liver of normal rats(4,5) or (b) has no effect at all(8).
The absence of important endocrine glands such as the pituitary does not prevent the appearnce of the mitosis-stimulating factor in cortisone-treated, partially hepatectomized
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