Epidermal growth factor receptors in the canine antrum.

In this study we localized receptor binding sites for 125I-human epidermal growth factor (hEGF) in the antrum of the adult canine stomach. High levels of specific 125I-hEGF binding sites were observed over the mucosa and muscularis mucosa, whereas specific binding sites were not detectable over the submucosa, external circular and longitudinal muscle or myenteric neurons. These results are in agreement with previous studies which indicated that EGF stimulates the proliferation of cultured epithelial cells and inhibits gastric acid secretion. This suggests that EGF may be a useful therapeutic agent in the healing of gastric ulcers.