The role of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in liver regeneration was studied in mice after partial hepatectomy. Two weeks before partial hepatectomy, mice were sham-operated (control) or sialoadenectomized (removal of submandibular glands) to reduce plasma EGF levels. Sialoadenectomized mice showed low plasma EGF levels (29·7 ±6·6 pmol/l; mean ± s.e.m.) compared with controls (66·0±8·3 pmol/l). After partial hepatectomy, sialoadenectomized mice were treated with or without a daily s.c. injection of 5 μg EGF and the rate of DNA synthesis in the regenerating liver was monitored by [125I]iododeoxyuridine uptake. Control mice showed a sharp peak of DNA synthesis at 48 h after partial hepatectomy while sialoadenectomized mice showed a delayed and broad peak at 84 h. Treatment of sialoadenectomized mice with EGF (5 μg/mouse per day) completely restored the pattern of DNA synthesis so that a sharp peak appeared at 48 h. The total liver DNA content of the control mice (79·1±2·5% of the preoperative level; mean ± s.e.m.) was significantly (P < 0·01) higher than that of the sialoadenectomized mice (65·2±3·0%) 3 days after partial hepatectomy, but this difference disappeared on day 7 when liver regeneration was almost completed in both groups. Treatment of sialoadenectomized mice with EGF increased total liver DNA content (78·2±2·9%) to that of control mice on day 3 after partial hepatectomy. In addition, normal mice showed a rapid increase in plasma EGF levels at 1–8 h after partial hepatectomy, whereas sialoadenectomized mice showed low plasma EGF levels throughout the course of the experiment. These results suggest that EGF derived from the submandibular glands plays a role in promoting the early stage of liver regeneration.
Journal of Endocrinology (1991) 128, 425–431
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