AGGRESSIVE-BEHAVIOR IN MICE PROVOKES A MARKED INCREASE IN BOTH PLASMA EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR AND RENIN

The plasma concentration of epidermal growth factor (EGF) in normal, nephrectomized and sialectomized mice is about 0.5 nmol/l. Aggressive behavior results in a parallel increase in both plasma EGF and plasma renin for both normal and nephrectomized mice. The plasma concentration of EGF increases around 300- and 150-fold, respectively; no increase was observed in sialectomized mice, suggesting that the submaxillary gland is an important source of liberated EGF. Virtually all the EGF was found in plasma as a low molecular species that behaves as pure ECG, when examined by radioimmunoassay and radioreceptor assay.