Androgen-dependent expression of fibroblast growth factor-1 in submaxillary gland of mouse

We have purified a 16,000 dalton protein that stimulates growth of human umbilical cord vein-derived endothelial cells (HUV-EC) from mouse submaxillary glands by using heparin-Sepharose affinity and C4 reverse phase chromatography. The purified molecule was identified as an FGF-1 on the basis of its biological activities, its affinity for heparin and its N-terminal amino-acid sequence. The concentrations of FGF-1 in the submaxillary gland of male or testosterone-treated female mice were about 12 times those of untreated females or castrated males. The 2.3 and 4.1 kb FGF-1 mRNAs were expressed in the glands of male mice older than 4 weeks but not in the glands of female mice. These results suggest that FGF-1 may have important functions for growth, differentiation and development of mouse submaxillary glands, and it may act as an endocrine hormone.