title: Epidermal growth factor in the rat lung.
abstract: Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) in pharmacological doses is able to induce precoccious lung maturation in rabbits and sheeps. As EGF is probably acting in a para- or autocrine way, we have searched for EGF in the lungs. We report EGF immunoreactivity to be present in the type II pneumocytes of the rat from a couple of days prior to birth and throughout life. Further, we report EGF immunoreactivity to be present in cells in the bronchi and the bronchioles from day 20-21 of gestation and throughout life. G-200 gelchromatography of lung extracts indicates that the EGF-reactive material is a high molecular weight form of EGF. Since previous studies have shown that EGF in pharmacological doses is able to promote lung maturation, our results may imply a physiological role for EGF in the lungs.
authors.affiliation: Department B, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Raaberg
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Poulsen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Nexø
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001980:Bronchi / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000737:chemistry; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D005865:Gestational Age; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008168:Lung / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000196:embryology; D008970:Molecular Weight; D011650:Pulmonary Alveoli / Q000737:chemistry / Q000196:embryology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor