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Alteration in Levels of Immunoreactive Epidermal Growth Factor in the Gastrointestinal Mucosa of Fischer Rats Fed a Diet Containing 10% Wheat Branx^1,2,

Department of Clinical Investigation, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307 ^* Division of Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC 20204

This study evaluates the effect of dietary wheat bran on the levels of immunoreactive epidermal growth factor (EGF) in the gastrointestinal mucosa of Fischer 344 rats. Male rats were fed either a fiber-free diet or a diet containing 10% wheat bran (nine animals per group) for a period of 5 wk. The gastrointestinal tract of each animal was divided into four segments: proximal, middle and distal small intestine, and colon. Mucosa was removed by scraping, EGF was extracted by homogenization and the extracts were analyzed for immunoreactive rat EGF using a homologous RIA. Levels of immunoreactive EGF in all regions of the small intestine of Fischer rats were comparable to our previous measurements in Sprague-Dawley rats, and these levels were unaffected by diet. In contrast, the EGF levels in the colon of the Fischer rats were approximately fivefold greater than those of the Sprague-Dawley rats. These higher levels of immunoreactive EGF in the colon decreased 63% with the addition of 10% wheat bran to the diet (P < 0.02). These results represent the first demonstration of dietary fiber modulating the content of EGF in the gastrointestinal tract.

KEY WORDS: • epidermal growth factor • dietary fiber • colon • rats

¹ Supported in part by the Department of Clinical Investigation, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and in part by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

² The opinions or assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as reflecting the views of the U.S. Department of the Army, the U.S. Department of Defense or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

³ To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Manuscript received 2 August 1990. Revision accepted 8 November 1990.