Stimulatory effects of epidermal growth factor on deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis in the gastrointestinal tract of the suckling mouse.
The effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF), cortisone and thyroxine on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) synthesis in the esophagus, stomach, small intestine and colon have been studied in suckling mouse. Daily administration of EGF [4 micrograms/g body weight (bw)/day] during 3 days to 8-day-old mice induced a significant increase of the incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA in the stomach, the small intestine, and the two halves of the colon. The DNA synthesis in the esophagus remained unaffected by the EGF treatment. The maximal increase of [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA was observed in the colon, and represented 112%. Daily administration of cortisone acetate (25 micrograms/g bw/day) or thyroxine (1 microgram/g bw/day) during 3 days to 8-day-old mice had no significant influence of the DNA synthesis of any part of the gastrointestinal tract. These results show that EGF is able to affect the DNA synthesis in the stomach, small intestine and colon of suckling mice.
D000818:Animals; D003348:Cortisone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D004247:DNA; D013974:Thyroxine; D003348:Cortisone