The secretory characteristics of epidermal growth factor in human saliva.
A series of unstimulated and stimulated saliva samples from healthy volunteers was tested for EGF by radioimmunoassay. Salivary EGF, like other salivary constituents, was secreted in a diurnal pattern. On stimulation the rate of EGF secretion doubled but the concentration fell by 70% because of dilution by salivary fluid. EGF secretion was positively related to saliva flow (p = 0.00001) but the coefficient of correlation was low (r = 0.47). Over a period of 30 min continual salivary stimulation, EGF was released in a bimodal pattern with peaks occurring at 3 and 12 min. Subsequently, EGF secretion remained stable at a rate of release that was approx. 80% of the initial peak value (7.4 ng/min). Chromatography indicated that both high and low molecular-weight forms of EGF were present in unstimulated and stimulated saliva and that the low-weight form predominated. However, the proportion of high molecular-weight EGF increased from 18 to 38% of the total on short-term (3 min) stimulation.
McGurk
M
M
Department of Oral and Maxillo-facial Surgery, Turner Dental School, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, England.
Hanford
L
L
Justice
S
S
Metcalfe
R A
RA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008297:Male; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D012472:Salivation; D012636:Secretory Rate; D013997:Time Factors
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor