Regulation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors in Rat Gastric Mucosa : Effect of Gastric Ulceration

Abstract

The effect of experimental ulcers on the binding of human epidermal growth factor (hEGF), β-urogastrone, to plasma membranes isolated from rat gastric mucosa was studied in order to develop hEGF as an anti-ulcer drug. The binding of [¹²⁵I] hEGF to the gastric plasma membranes was significantly decreased 1 h after treatment with aspirin (300 mg/kg) and after 12 h of water-immersion stress. However, the number of EGF binding sites was increased 12 h after aspirin administration. There was little change in the binding of [¹²⁵I] insulin to the gastric plasma membranes in response to water-immersion stress. These results indicate that changes in EGF binding to its receptors occur on plasma membranes of the rat gastric mucosa during ulcer.