title: Influence of epidermal growth factor on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy in mice.
abstract: The role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in liver regeneration was studied in mice after partial hepatectomy. Two weeks before partial hepatectomy, mice were sham-operated (control) or sialoadenectomized (removal of submandibular glands) to reduce plasma EGF levels. Sialoadenectomized mice showed low plasma EGF levels (29.7 +/- 6.6 pmol/l; mean +/- S.E.M.) compared with controls (66.0 +/- 8.3 pmol/l). After partial hepatectomy, sialoadenectomized mice were treated with or without a daily s.c. injection of 5 micrograms EGF and the rate of DNA synthesis in the regenerating liver was monitored by [125I]iododeoxyuridine uptake. Control mice showed a sharp peak of DNA synthesis at 48 h after partial hepatectomy while sialoadenectomized mice showed a delayed and broad peak at 84 h. Treatment of sialoadenectomized mice with EGF (5 micrograms/mouse per day) completely restored the pattern of DNA synthesis so that a sharp peak appeared at 48 h. The total liver DNA content of the control mice (79.1 +/- 2.5% of the preoperative level; mean +/- S.E.M.) was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher than that of the sialoadenectomized mice (65.2 +/- 3.0%) 3 days after partial hepatectomy, but this difference disappeared on day 7 when liver regeneration was almost completed in both groups. Treatment of sialoadenectomized mice with EGF increased total liver DNA content (78.2 +/- 2.9%) to that of control mice on day 3 after partial hepatectomy. In addition, normal mice showed a rapid increase in plasma EGF levels at 1-8 h after partial hepatectomy, whereas sialoadenectomized mice showed low plasma EGF levels throughout the course of the experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland 20892.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Noguchi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ohba
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Oka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006498:Hepatectomy; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008115:Liver Regeneration / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008809:Mice, Inbred C3H; D013363:Submandibular Gland / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D004247:DNA