L-asparaginase: inhibition of early mitosis in regenerating rat liver.

L-Asparaginase in agouti serum and in extracts from Escherichia coli inhibits the early wave of mitosis occurring in rat liver approximately 30 hours after hepatectomy, but even with continued treatment of the animal the later wave at 50 hours is not inhibited. This result differs from the permanent inhibition of growth which asparaginase causes in various tumors.