Max-planck-gesellschaft Zur F&#xf6;rderung Der Wissenschaften E. V.

Wolfgang Strecker

Gerhard Ruhenstroth-Bauer

Michel Goldberg

Siegfried Silz

A factor which causes an increase in the number of liver cells through increased cell division activity, obtained by homogenizing the remaining livers of partially hepatectomized animals, subjecting the homogenate to acidification to pH=5.5 and then heat treatment at 95.degree. C., and centrifuging said homogenate. After such treatment, the factor is contained in the supernatant. The factor is a neuraminic-acid-free protein with a molecular weight of approximately 30,000 to 50,000 D. An extract containing the factor also can be obtained from the blood plasma of hepatectomized animals, when the plasma in addition to the described steps further is treated with neuraminidase. Similarly, an extract containing the factor can be obtained from the livers or the plasma of non-hepatectomized fetal or very young animals.

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Eichenau, Germany

Wolfgang Strecker