Peritubular endothelial cell proliferation in mice during compensatory renal growth after unilateral nephrectomy

The proliferation of peritubular endothelial cells during compensatory renal growth (CRG) following unilateral nephrectomy in mice was investigated using a labeling index. The labeling index of peritubular endothelial cells increased 6 h after uninephrectomy and decreased to the normal level within 72 h. Immunohistochemical study revealed that c-myc protein was expressed in the nuclei of both cortical tubular cells and peritubular endothelial cells. Furthermore, intravenous injection of anti-basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) neutralizing antibody just after uninephrectomy led to significant inhibition of proliferation of peritubular endothelial cells, but not tubular cells. These results indicate that peritubular endothelial cells proliferate transiently during CRG and that bFGF plays an important role for the growth regulation of that cell in the kidney.