title: Expression of epidermal growth factor, epidermal growth factor receptor and transforming growth factor-alpha in the human fetal inner ear.
abstract: The expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF), EGF receptor and transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha was analyzed in the human fetal inner ear using immuno-histochemical methods. EGF receptor was observed only in 9.5-week-old fetal vestibular epithelia. In 14- and 16-week-old fetuses, EGF receptor could not be detected. TGF-alpha was observed strongly in the 9- and 11-week-old vestibular epithelia, whereas only trace amounts were detectable in the 14- and 16-week-old vestibular epithelia. These findings suggest that EGF and TGF-alpha probably have a mitogenic effect in the sensory epithelia of the fetal inner ear, especially at early stages of development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Yamaguchi University School of Medicine, Ube, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bagger-Sjöbäck
mesh_terms: D007758:Ear, Inner / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005333:Fetus; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D066246:ErbB Receptors