Abstract
Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) in pharmacological doses is able to induce precoccious lung maturation in rabbits and sheeps. As EGF is probably acting in a para- or autocrine way, we have searched for EGF in the lungs. We report EGF immunoreactivity to be present in the type II pneumocytes of the rat from a couple of days prior to birth and throughout life. Further, we report EGF immunoreactivity to be present in cells in the bronchi and the bronchioles from day 20-21 of gestation and throughout life. G-200 gelchromatography of lung extracts indicates that the EGF-reactive material is a high molecular weight form of EGF. Since previous studies have shown that EGF in pharmacological doses is able to promote lung maturation, our results may imply a physiological role for EGF in the lungs.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Histochemistry |
| Volume | 95 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| Pages (from-to) | 471-5 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| ISSN | 0301-5564 |
| Publication status | Published - 1991 |
Keywords
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Bronchi
- Epidermal Growth Factor
- Epithelium
- Fetus
- Gestational Age
- Immunoenzyme Techniques
- Lung
- Molecular Weight
- Pulmonary Alveoli
- Rats
- Rats, Inbred Strains