Effect of epidermal growth factor infusion on serum and urine calcium in mice

Transforming growth factors (TGFs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of the hypercalcemia in malignancy (HM). In order to evaluate the role of these growth factors (epidermal growth factor (EGF) and TGF-alpha acting via the EGF receptor) in the development of HM, we studied the effect of 2 doses of EGF (0.1 and 0.3 microgram/g/day) given for 7 days as a continuous infusion on serum and urine calcium in athymic mice. These infusions had no effect on serum and urine Ca values in this study. In order to assess the biological activity of the infused EGF, other known effects on gastric and pancreatic weights were evaluated. EGF-infused animals had significantly greater gastric and pancreatic weights than controls. Thus, EGF infusion into mice in doses which elicited known biological effects failed to have an effect on serum and urine Ca. An infusion of bovine parathyroid hormone 1-34 at the dose of 0.1 microgram/g/day resulted in significant hypercalcemia.