Abstract
Summary: Injection of epidermal growth factor (EGF) into 24-day rabbit fetuses (5 μg, im or ip) induced accelerated maturation of the lung. On sacrifice at day 27, there was greater distensibility and stability on deflation associated with the appearance of a complement of type II cells approaching that of the rabbit at term. EGF treatment had no demonstrable effect on body weight or lung weight in this group of animals. Saline-injected control fetuses were not affected significantly.
Speculation: EGF is capable not only of promoting epithelial cell growth but also differentiation in the fetal rabbit lung. It may be an important hormone in the maturation of the lung and capable of protecting the prematurely delivered fetus against the development of hyaline membrane disease.
Similar content being viewed by others
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Catterton, W., Escobedo, M., Sexson, W. et al. Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor on Lung Maturation in Fetal Rabbits. Pediatr Res 13, 104–108 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197902000-00004
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197902000-00004
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Paracrine stimulation of perinatal lung functional and structural maturation by mesenchymal stem cells
Stem Cell Research & Therapy (2020)
-
Role of epidermal growth factor and epidermal growth factor receptor on hemidesmosome complex formation and integrin subunit β4
Cell and Tissue Research (2003)
-
Epithelial immaturity and multiorgan failure in mice lacking epidermal growth factor receptor
Nature (1995)
-
Pränatale Beeinflussung der EGF-Rezeptoren durch Schilddrüsenhormone bei der fetalen Ratte
Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics (1993)
-
Epidermal growth factor in the rat lung
Histochemistry (1991)