Epidermal growth factor and proliferation of odontogenic cells in culture

The proliferation of bovine odontogenic epithelial (OE) and mesenchymal (OM) cells cultured in the presence of varying concentrations of epidermal growth factor (EGF) was examined. After a delay of two to three d, EGF-supplemented cultures contained significantly more cells than did controls. This effect was dose-dependent, was maximal at 10-9 g EGF/ml for OE and 10-8 g EGF/ml for OM, and was dependent on the presence of serum in the culture medium. The results suggest the possibility that EGF may play a role in the control of odontogenic cell proliferation in vivo.