THE EFFECT OF EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR ON LIVER LIPID-PEROXIDATION AND GLUTATHIONE LEVELS IN LOBECTOMIZED RATS

Epidermal growth factor (EGF) is a growth-promoting polypeptide which is found in highest levels in male mice in the submaxillary gland. It may also be a key factor in regeneration of the liver. We performed experiments with 18 male Wistar rats, divided into three groups. Hepatic left lobectomy (%30) was performed on the first group of rats. This group received an intraperitoneal injection of EGF for 7 days. The second group was the control group into which normal saline was injected for 7 days. The third group was sham-operated. On days 5 and 7 tomographic studies of liver were performed. On day 7 EGF levels, lipid peroxidation, and glutathione in liver were measured in all of the rats. While serum EGF levels did not show any significant change, the levels of lipid peroxide were decreased and glutathione was increased. Tomographic measurements indicated that administration of EGF increased the amount of regeneration.