Effects of sialoadenectomy and epidermal growth factor administration on the duodenum of adult mice.

Sialoadenectomy (removal of the submandibular glands) of adult male and female mice caused significant or apparent decreases in duodenal weight, duodenal protein, DNA and RNA contents, and alkaline phosphatase activity. These decreased levels observed in sialoadenectomized mice were completely restored to or rather increased over the control levels by epidermal growth factor (EGF) administration. There was no appreciable difference in body weight between the control and sialoadenectomized mice. These results strongly suggest that salivary EGF secreted from the submandibular gland plays a role in the maintenance of growth and function(s) of the adult mouse duodenum.