Alteration in levels of immunoreactive epidermal growth factor in the gastrointestinal mucosa of Fischer rats fed a diet containing 10% wheat bran.
This study evaluates the effect of dietary wheat bran on the levels of immunoreactive epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the gastrointestinal mucosa of Fischer 344 rats. Male rats were fed either a fiber-free diet or a diet containing 10% wheat bran (nine animals per group) for a period of 5 wk. The gastrointestinal tract of each animal was divided into four segments: proximal, middle and distal small intestine, and colon. Mucosa was removed by scraping, EGF was extracted by homogenization and the extracts were analyzed for immunoreactive rat EGF using a homologous RIA. Levels of immunoreactive EGF in all regions of the small intestine of Fischer rats were comparable to our previous measurements in Sprague-Dawley rats, and these levels were unaffected by diet. In contrast, the EGF levels in the colon of the Fischer rats were approximately fivefold greater than those of the Sprague-Dawley rats. These higher levels of immunoreactive EGF in the colon decreased 63% with the addition of 10% wheat bran to the diet (P less than 0.02). These results represent the first demonstration of dietary fiber modulating the content of EGF in the gastrointestinal tract.
Schaudies
R P
RP
Department of Clinical Investigation, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307.
Satchithanandam
S
S
Calvert
R J
RJ
D000818:Animals; D004038:Diet, Reducing; D004435:Eating; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014908:Triticum / Q000502:physiology*; D015430:Weight Gain
D011506:Proteins; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor