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Epidermal growth factor in the rat lung

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Summary

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Medical Anatomy, Department B, University of Copenhagen, The Panum Institute, Blegdamsvej 3, DK-2200, Copenhagen N, Denmark

    L. Raaberg & S. Seier Poulsen

  2. Department of Clinical Chemistry, Hillerød County Hospital, DK-3400, Hillerød, Denmark

    L. Raaberg & E. Nexø

Authors
  1. L. Raaberg
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  2. S. Seier Poulsen
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  3. E. Nexø
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Raaberg, L., Poulsen, S.S. & Nexø, E. Epidermal growth factor in the rat lung. Histochemistry 95, 471–475 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315742

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00315742

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