Growth hormone and epidermal growth factor in salivary glands of giant and dwarf transgenic mice.
Epidermal growth factor (EGF) in rat salivary glands is regulated by testosterone, thyroxin, and growth hormone (GH). Salivary glands of 45-day-old giant and dwarf male and female transgenic mice were examined histologically and by immunohistochemistry (IHC) for EGF. Male giants showed no significant differences from wild-type (WT) parotid and submandibular glands. However, their sublingual glands expressed EGF diffusely and strongly in granular cells within the striated ducts, where they were not found in WT mice. Submandibular gland ducts of female WT were different, having individual granular cells strongly positive for EGF and distributed sporadically along the striated duct walls. Neither female GH-antagonist dwarf mice nor GH-receptor knockout mice had any granular cells expressing EGF in any gland. Obvious presence of granular duct cells in the sublingual glands of giant male mice suggests GH-upregulated granular cell EGF expression. Furthermore, absence of granular duct cells from all glands in female GH-antagonist and GH-receptor knockout transgenic mice suggests that GH is necessary for the differentiation of the granular cell phenotype in female salivary glands.
School of Dentistry, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
William G
WG
Young
German O
GO
Ramirez-Yañez
Terry J
TJ
Daley
Joseph R
JR
Smid
Karen T
KT
Coshigano
John J
JJ
Kopchick
Michael J
MJ
Waters
D000818:Animals; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D051381:Rats; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*
D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D013006:Growth Hormone