Epidermal growth factor increases basal mucosal blood flow in the rat colon, a prostaglandin dependent effect

Objective/background Non-mitogenic biological activity such as modulation o f mucosal blood flow is suspected to convey the protective effects of epide rmal growth factor (EGF) in vivo. The aims of our present study were to det ermine the effects of EGF on colonic mucosal blood flow and injury induced hyperaemia in rats. Design/methods Rats were pretreated with i.p. injections of vehicle, EGF, o r indomethacin and EGF prior to mucosal injury. Basal mucosal blood flow an d injury induced hyperaemia at the border of the damaged mucosa was determi ned by using reflectance spectrophotometry, Results EGF significantly increased basal mucosal blood flow but did not fu rther enhance injury induced hyperaemia. The EGF induced increase in basal mucosal blood flow was completely abolished by indomethacin pretreatment. Conclusions EGF induces an increase of basal mucosal blood flow through ind uction of prostaglandin synthesis. We hypothesize that the increase in muco sal blood flow contributes to the ability of EGF to protect the colonic muc osa against injury. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol 11:1305-1310 (C) 1999 Lippi ncott Williams & Wilkins.