Abstract
The 45 kDa epidermal growth factor (EGF-(45 kDa)) has been purified from rat urine. We have investigated the distribution and the processing of i.v. injected 125I-labeled EGF-(45 kDa) in the rat. 2.5 min after the i.v. injection only 12% of the label remained in the blood. Most of the label was found in the liver (54%), in the kidneys (7%) and in the skin (4%). The submandibular glands, stomach, small intestine, colon, spleen and lungs contained 1% or less of the radioactivity. Some of the 125I-EGF-(45 kDa) was processed to 125I-EGF-(6 kDa) immunoreactivity in the liver and in the kidneys. The kidneys excreted 125I-EGF-(45 kDa) in the urine, but we were not able to demonstrate 125I-EGF-(6 kDa) in urine. In conclusion, this study shows that homologous EGF-(45 kDa) is cleared from the circulation of rats within a few minutes, mainly by the liver and the kidneys. In vivo both the liver and the kidneys are able to process some of the EGF-(45 kDa) to EGF-(6 kDa) immunoreactivity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Regulatory Peptides |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Pages (from-to) | 113-23 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| ISSN | 0167-0115 |
| Publication status | Published - 10 Sept 1990 |
Keywords
- Animals
- Epidermal Growth Factor
- Injections, Intravenous
- Kidney
- Liver
- Male
- Molecular Weight
- Protein Precursors
- Rats
- Rats, Inbred Strains
- Skin
- Tissue Distribution