Epidermal growth factor accelerates the intestinal cessation of macromolecular transmission in the suckling rat.

1. The effects of EGF administered subcutaneously on the intestinal cessation of macromolecular transmission and sucrase development were investigated in suckling rats and compared with those on hydrocortisone-treated pups. 2. In the EGF-treated pups, intestinal absorptive response of IgG was suppressed 50% whereas, the sucrase activity was not affected. In the hydrocortisone-treated pups, the absorptive response was inhibited completely, while sucrase activity was induced precociously. 3. The characteristics of intestinal cessation was morphologically observed at the jejunal epithelial cells in EGF and hydrocortisone-treated pups. 4. These results suggest that EGF affects the maturation of gastrointestinal function in a manner different from that of glucocorticoid hormones.