[The expression of c-fos gene in cultured bovine trabecular cells induced by epidermal growth factor].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effect of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on cultured trabecular cells.

METHODS

Molecular hybridization technique was used to investigate the effect of EGF on c-fos expression and its induction of bovine trabecular cells in vitro, and 3H-TdR incorporation method was applied to study the synthesis of DNA.

RESULTS

EGF enhanced the incorporation of 3H-TdR into trabecular cells at concentrations ranging from 20-150 ng/ml (P < 0.001). Compared with control, the expression of c-fos appeared at 0.5 hour and 1 hour after stimulation, and did not exist till 2 hr. The level of c-fos expression in cells relied on the concentration of EGF.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that EGF stimulate trabecular cell proliferation at least in part by the regulation of the c-fos gene and its nuclear protein.