Induction of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the urogenital sinus by a brief treatment with androgens
Saito, M.; Mizuno, T.
Comptes Rendus des Seances de la Societe de Biologie et de ses Filiales 192(5): 1025-1028
1998
ISSN/ISBN: 0037-9026 PMID: 9871813 Document Number: 486301
We have investigated the induction of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the urogenital sinus of fetal mice when the sinuses were cultured with testosterone. Immunofluorescence study revealed that almost no EGF is detectable in the pre-incubated sinuses, whereas EGF is induced in the sinus mesenchyme as early as 2 hours after the testosterone treatment. The results support the hypothesis that paracrine-like factors secreted from the sinus mesenchyme activated by androgens may be EGF or EGF-like growth factors that stimulate the sinus epithelium to induce prostatic buds.