Effect of human epidermal growth factor on lung surfactant production in fetal rabbit. 1989

M Higuchi, and H Hirano, and M Maki
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Akita University School of Medicine.

The effect of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) on the maturation of fetal rabbit lung was studied. On the 25th day of gestation, 0.1 ml of saline solution containing 0.1 microgram of hEGF was injected intramuscularly through uterine wall into fetuses in one horn of the uterus (hEGF treated group) and the same amount of saline solution injected into fetuses in the other horn of the uterus (saline-control group). Sham operated group was also studied; saline was injected to fetuses in both horns. On the 27th day of gestation, fetuses were delivered by cesarean section. There were no significant differences in fatal body weight and fetal lung wet weight among three groups. Total phosphatidylcholine (PC) and disaturated phosphatidylcholine (DSPC) concentrations/g dry lung weight were high in order of hEGF treated group, saline injected group and sham operated group. There were no significant differences in PC concentrations among three groups. However, DSPC concentrations in both saline-control and hEGF treated group were significantly higher than that in sham operated group (p less than 0.01). The % composition of palmitic acid in PC molecule, which is the main component of saturated fatty acid of lung surfactant, was significantly higher in hEGF group than in sham operated group (p less than 0.05). Interestingly, there were no significant differences in DSPC level and the % composition of palmitic acid between saline-control and hEGF treated group. This phenomenon might be due to so called a "neighbor effect" that hEGF injected to fetuses in one side of the uterine horn influences the fetuses in the other side of the horn through placentas.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008168 Lung Either of the pair of organs occupying the cavity of the thorax that effect the aeration of the blood. Lungs
D010713 Phosphatidylcholines Derivatives of PHOSPHATIDIC ACIDS in which the phosphoric acid is bound in ester linkage to a CHOLINE moiety. Choline Phosphoglycerides,Choline Glycerophospholipids,Phosphatidyl Choline,Phosphatidyl Cholines,Phosphatidylcholine,Choline, Phosphatidyl,Cholines, Phosphatidyl,Glycerophospholipids, Choline,Phosphoglycerides, Choline
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011663 Pulmonary Surfactants Substances and drugs that lower the SURFACE TENSION of the mucoid layer lining the PULMONARY ALVEOLI. Surfactants, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Surfactant,Surfactant, Pulmonary
D011817 Rabbits A burrowing plant-eating mammal with hind limbs that are longer than its fore limbs. It belongs to the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, and in contrast to hares, possesses 22 instead of 24 pairs of chromosomes. Belgian Hare,New Zealand Rabbit,New Zealand Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbit,Rabbit,Rabbit, Domestic,Chinchilla Rabbits,NZW Rabbits,New Zealand White Rabbits,Oryctolagus cuniculus,Chinchilla Rabbit,Domestic Rabbit,Domestic Rabbits,Hare, Belgian,NZW Rabbit,Rabbit, Chinchilla,Rabbit, NZW,Rabbit, New Zealand,Rabbits, Chinchilla,Rabbits, Domestic,Rabbits, NZW,Rabbits, New Zealand,Zealand Rabbit, New,Zealand Rabbits, New,cuniculus, Oryctolagus
D004815 Epidermal Growth Factor A 6-kDa polypeptide growth factor initially discovered in mouse submaxillary glands. Human epidermal growth factor was originally isolated from urine based on its ability to inhibit gastric secretion and called urogastrone. Epidermal growth factor exerts a wide variety of biological effects including the promotion of proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal and EPITHELIAL CELLS. It is synthesized as a transmembrane protein which can be cleaved to release a soluble active form. EGF,Epidermal Growth Factor-Urogastrone,Urogastrone,Human Urinary Gastric Inhibitor,beta-Urogastrone,Growth Factor, Epidermal,Growth Factor-Urogastrone, Epidermal,beta Urogastrone
D005227 Fatty Acids Organic, monobasic acids derived from hydrocarbons by the equivalent of oxidation of a methyl group to an alcohol, aldehyde, and then acid. Fatty acids are saturated and unsaturated (FATTY ACIDS, UNSATURATED). (Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed) Aliphatic Acid,Esterified Fatty Acid,Fatty Acid,Fatty Acids, Esterified,Fatty Acids, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acid,Aliphatic Acids,Acid, Aliphatic,Acid, Esterified Fatty,Acid, Saturated Fatty,Esterified Fatty Acids,Fatty Acid, Esterified,Fatty Acid, Saturated,Saturated Fatty Acids
D005260 Female Females
D005325 Fetal Organ Maturity Functional competence of specific organs or body systems of the FETUS in utero. Fetal Maturity, Functional,Functional Fetal Maturity,Maturity, Fetal Organ,Maturity, Functional Fetal,Organ Maturity, Fetal
D005333 Fetus The unborn young of a viviparous mammal, in the postembryonic period, after the major structures have been outlined. In humans, the unborn young from the end of the eighth week after CONCEPTION until BIRTH, as distinguished from the earlier EMBRYO, MAMMALIAN. Fetal Structures,Fetal Tissue,Fetuses,Mummified Fetus,Retained Fetus,Fetal Structure,Fetal Tissues,Fetus, Mummified,Fetus, Retained,Structure, Fetal,Structures, Fetal,Tissue, Fetal,Tissues, Fetal

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