Epidermal growth factor-like material in rat submandibular gland.

By using an antiserum specific for mouse epidermal growth factor (EGF), only the granular convoluted tubule (GCT) cells revealed immunochemical staining in rat submandibular glands. There was no regular sexual difference in the frequency or size of immunoreactive cells. Extracts of gland contained an antigen which showed a complete cross-reactivity with mouse EGF in radioimmunoassays. The relative amounts of EGF, determined by a heterologous radioimmunoassay, were not significantly different in the glands of rats of the two sexes. Administration of testosterone caused an increase, in both sexes, in the number of GCT cells stained for EGF and in the amount of EGF in the gland. There was no significant sexual differeence in these two parameters after androgen treatment.