You are here

  • Home
  • Archive
  • Volume 44, Issue 1
  • The effect of epidermal growth factor on brush border surface area and function in the distal remnant following resection in the rabbit

Article Text

Article menu
Download PDFPDF
Molecular and cell biology
The effect of epidermal growth factor on brush border surface area and function in the distal remnant following resection in the rabbit
  1. J A Hardina,
  2. B Chunga,
  3. E V O’Loughlinb,
  4. D G Galla
  1. aGastrointestinal Research Group, Health Sciences Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, bDepartment of Gastroenterology, Royal Alexandria Hospital for Children, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
  1. Dr D G Gall, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr NW, Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1, Canada.

Abstract

Background Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been shown to increase intestinal absorptive surface area and transport function in normal animals.

Aims To examine the effect of EGF on absorptive surface area and brush border membrane function in a model of massive small bowel resection.

Methods New Zealand white rabbits were randomised into two groups: a resected group (60% proximal small bowel resection); and an unmanipulated control group. Distal remnant tissue was examined 10 and 21 days postsurgery. In separate experiments oral EGF (40 μg/kg/day) was administered to resected animals from days 3 to 8 and animals were studied on day 10.

Results Ten days postsurgery brush border surface area and total absorptive surface area were significantly increased in remnant tissue while brush border membrane vesicle (BBMV) glucose uptake was significantly decreased compared with controls. By 21 days brush border surface area returned to control levels though BBMV glucose uptake remained depressed. EGF treatment induced a further increase in brush border surface area in remnant intestine but did not alter BBMV glucose uptake.

Conclusions Surgical resection results in significant elevations in absorptive surface area coupled with a decrease in brush border membrane transport function distal to the site of anastomosis. EGF enhances glucose uptake in remnant intestine via recruitment of additional microvillus membrane into the brush border.

  • short gut
  • resection
  • surface area
  • brush border membrane

  • Abbreviations

    BBMV
    brush border membrane vesicle
    EGF
    epidermal growth factor
    BrdU
    bromodeoxyuridine
    TMA-DPH
    1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenylhexatriene
    DMSO
    dimethyl sulphoxide
    RES
    resected
    CON
    control
    SGLT
    sodium glucose linked transporter

    • https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.44.1.26

    Statistics from Altmetric.com

      Request Permissions

      If you wish to reuse any or all of this article please use the link below which will take you to the Copyright Clearance Center’s RightsLink service. You will be able to get a quick price and instant permission to reuse the content in many different ways.

    • Abbreviations

      BBMV
      brush border membrane vesicle
      EGF
      epidermal growth factor
      BrdU
      bromodeoxyuridine
      TMA-DPH
      1-[4-(trimethylamino)phenyl]-6-phenylhexatriene
      DMSO
      dimethyl sulphoxide
      RES
      resected
      CON
      control
      SGLT
      sodium glucose linked transporter
      • View Full Text