Related Experiment Videos
Effects of anti-EGF serum on newborn mice
1Akademie der Wissenschaften der DDR, Zentralinstitut für Molekularbiologie, Berlin.
Experientia
|March 15, 1988
Insights
Newborn mice treated with anti-epidermal growth factor (EGF) serum showed delayed eyelid opening and tooth eruption. This indicates EGF plays a key role in early development, which can be blocked by specific antibodies.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Physiology
- Immunology
Background:
- Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent mitogen.
- The role of EGF in early postnatal development is not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the physiological function of EGF in the first week of postnatal life.
- To determine if anti-EGF serum can abrogate EGF's effects.
Main Methods:
- Administration of anti-EGF serum to newborn mice.
- Observation of developmental milestones including eyelid opening, tooth eruption, hair growth, and weight gain.
Main Results:
- Delayed eyelid opening and incisor tooth eruption in treated mice.
- Accelerated hair growth and delayed weight gain in treated mice.
- Demonstration that anti-EGF serum can block EGF's physiological actions.
Conclusions:
- EGF has a significant physiological role during the first week of neonatal life.
- Anti-EGF serum effectively neutralizes EGF activity in vivo.
- These findings highlight EGF's importance in regulating key developmental processes post-birth.
Abstract:
Administration of anti-EGF serum to newborn mice led to delay of eyelid opening and incisor tooth eruption, acceleration of hair growth and delay of weight gain. These results indicate that in the first week after birth EGF still has a physiological function, which can be abrogated by anti-EGF serum.