Epidermal growth factor stimulates monovalent cation transport in isolated rat hepatocytes

Abstract

Summary Epidermal growth factor (EGF) binds specifically to freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. Analysis of binding data at steady state at 20°C yields an apparent K D of 1 nM and a total number of approximately 930,000 sites per cell. EGF stimulates 22 Na + influx and the transport activity of the (Na + -K + )ATPase, measured by the ouabain-sensitive uptake of 86 Rb + . These effects of EGF on monovalent cation transport in hepatocytes may be relevant to the mitogenic action of the growth factor in liver.