The effects of exogenous epidermal growth factor on the developing urinary tract in rats: a stereological description.
Systemic treatment with epidermal growth factor (EGF) induces growth of all wall layers of the urinary tract in pigs and rats. In this study, we describe the time-dependent growth of the ureter and bladder. Forty-eight female Wistar rats were allocated into five groups receiving EGF treatment (150 microg/kg per day) for 0 (controls), 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks before being killed. The 24-h urine excretion was increased only in the group treated for 4 weeks with EGF. Measured by a simple infusion device, EGF significantly increased the bladder capacity by more than 50% in all the EGF-treated groups. The volumes of the wall layers of the ureter and bladder were quantified using stereology. After 4 weeks of treatment with EGF, the total volumes of the ureter and bladder were 1.8- and 2.1-fold larger than in the control group (the urothelium was 2.8- and 3.5-fold larger and the muscular coat 1.6- and 1.6-fold larger in the ureter and bladder, respectively). In conclusion, the EGF-induced growth of the urinary tract is characterized by increased bladder capacity, and increased volume of all wall layers --most prominently the urothelium.
Vinter-Jensen
L
L
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, KH Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus C, Denmark.
Nielsen
K
K
D000818:Animals; D004231:Diuresis / Q000187:drug effects; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000652:urine; D005260:Female; D006965:Hyperplasia; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013552:Swine; D013556:Swine, Miniature; D013997:Time Factors; D014513:Ureter / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D001743:Urinary Bladder / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000473:pathology; D019459:Urothelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology
D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor