AJP - Endocrinology and Metabolism, Vol 248, Issue 4 391-E396, Copyright © 1985 by American Physiological Society
Epidermal growth factor measurements in mouse plasma: method, ontogeny, and sex difference
J. Perheentupa, J. Lakshmanan, S. B. Hoath, U. Beri, H. Kim, T. Macaso and D. A. Fisher
A highly sensitive mouse plasma (serum) epidermal growth factor (EGF)
radioimmunoassay was utilized to determine EGF levels in mouse plasma and
submandibular gland (SMG) at different ages. Plasma and serum levels were
not different. Inferior vena caval blood was used because even at the age
of 12 days EGF levels were markedly higher in neck blood. At 2 wk serum EGF
levels were 60% of adult female levels. After a temporary decrease, mean
EGF concentrations reached adult values at 31 and 60 days in the female but
not yet in the male. In adults male serum EGF levels were twofold higher
than female levels. This difference is parallel to but much smaller than
the sex difference in SMG-EGF. SMG-EGF showed a very different ontogeny.
Moreover, no correlation was present in the adults between the SMG and
serum EGF concentrations. Testosterone treatment of adult females doubled
their serum EGF levels, but the stimulated values were still below the mean
of the male levels. The present observed plasma (serum) EGF levels in the
mouse are 20-40% of previously reported values, probably because of the
absence of EGF contamination from hair (urine) and milk.
