Dynamic changes of epidermal growth factor and its receptor in neonatal rats with intestine injury

Abstract

Objective To determine the dynamic changes of ileum epidermal growth factor(EGF),transforming growth factor-α(TGF-α)and epithelial growth factor receptor(EGFR)in neonatal rats with intestinal injury and to investigate their role in the neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis(NEC). Methods One-day-old Wistar rat pups were divided into two groups.The rats in the lipopolysaccharide(LPS)-injected group(n=40)received an intraperitoneal injection with 5 mg/kg LPS and those in the control group(n=8)did not.Control group and LPS-injected group at 1,3,6,12 and 24 h following LPS challenge were sacrificed for histological evaluation of NEC and for measurernents of EGF,EGFR,EGFR mRNA and TGF-α mRNA. Results Compared with the control group(0.12 0.17).the LPS-iniected pups showed a significant increase in injury scores at 1,3,6,12 and 24 h(1.28±0.62,1.75±0.74,1.98±0.75,2.85±0.41 and 2.35士0.63,respectively)(P 0.05).The expression of TGF-α mRNA was significantly up-regulated at 1 and 3 h following LPS injection. Conclusions Reduced levels of EGF may play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of NEC. Key words: Enterocolitis,neerotizing; Rats,Epidermal growth factor; Receptor,epidermal growth factor; Transforming growth factor-alpha