Epidermal growth factor binding and biologic effects on mouse pancreatic acini

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Cell Biology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a potent mitogen with diverse biological activities.
• The role of EGF in regulating pancreatic exocrine function is not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the receptor binding characteristics of EGF in isolated mouse pancreatic acini.
• To determine the effects of EGF on amylase release and protein synthesis in pancreatic acini.

Main Methods:

• Radio-iodinated murine EGF was used to study receptor binding kinetics in primary cultures of adult mouse pancreatic acini.
• Amylase release and [3H]leucine incorporation into protein were measured following EGF stimulation.

Main Results:

• EGF exhibited specific, saturable, and reversible binding to a single class of receptors with a dissociation constant of 4.0 X 10(-10) M.
• EGF significantly increased both basal and cholecystokinin-octapeptide-stimulated amylase release, with half-maximal effects at 1.5 X 10(-10) M.
• EGF enhanced [3H]leucine incorporation into protein, with half-maximal effects at 3.0 X 10(-10) M, indicating increased protein synthesis.

Conclusions:

• EGF binds to specific receptors on pancreatic acini and modulates exocrine function.
• EGF stimulates amylase secretion and protein synthesis in the exocrine pancreas.
• These findings suggest a potential physiological role for EGF in regulating pancreatic exocrine secretion.