Abstract
The initial signal for thyroid cell proliferation is unknown. This is the first report to show that epidermal growth factor (EGF) produces inositol phosphates and increases cytoplasmic free calcium ([Ca 2+]i) in the thyroid gland. In cultured porcine thyroid cells, 10 nM EGF produces a breakdown of phosphatidylinositol and stimulates inositol phosphate production. Ten nM EGF increases [Ca 2+]i, measured using fura-2, a fluorescent Ca 2+ indicator; the EGF-induced [Ca 2+]i response occurs immediately, reaches a maximum within several seconds, and then slowly declines. EGF stimulates production of inositol phosphates, which seem to increase [Ca 2+]i. Inositol phosphate production and an increase in [Ca 2+]i after EGF-stimulation may function as an initial signal for thyroid cell proliferation.
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