Enhancement of intestinal growth in neonatal rats by epidermal growth factor in milk

Journal Article · Sun Nov 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · American Journal of Physiology; (USA)

OSTI ID:6834296

Berseth, C L ^[1]

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1. Mayo Clinic and Mayo Foundation, Rochester, MN (USA)

Breast milk has been shown to enhance neonatal intestinal growth. Because epidermal growth factor (EGF) is present in the milk of various mammalian species, the hypothesis was tested that EGF in rodent milk mediates, in part, the breast milk-enhanced intestinal growth in neonatal rat. Fifty-eight rat pups fed artificial formal that contained 1.2, 3.0, and 6.0 {mu}g/ml EGF for 39 h had greater incorporation of ({sup 3}H)thymidine into DNA and DNA content of intestine than 29 pups fed unsupplemented formula. Pups fed EGF for 5 days had significantly greater body weight, intestinal weight, length, and DNA content than control pups. Conversely, pups fed pooled rat milk containing rabbit-derived antibody to EGF for 39 h had intestines of lower weight that contained less DNA than animals fed rat milk containing normal rabbit serum. EGF appears to mediate, in part, breast milk-enhanced neonatal intestinal growth.

• OSTI ID: 6834296
• Journal Information: American Journal of Physiology; (USA), Journal Name: American Journal of Physiology; (USA) Vol. 253:5; ISSN 0002-9513; ISSN AJPHA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

551001* -- Physiological Systems-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ANIMAL GROWTH
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
AZINES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BODY
BODY FLUIDS
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DNA REPLICATION
EPIDERMIS
EPITHELIUM
FOOD
GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT
GROWTH
GROWTH FACTORS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INTESTINES
MAMMALS
MATERIALS
MILK
MITOGENS
NUCLEIC ACID REPLICATION
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PROTEINS
PYRIMIDINES
RADIOASSAY
RATS
RIBOSIDES
RODENTS
SKIN
STOMACH
THYMIDINE
TISSUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES
WEIGHT