Preliminary studies on epidermal growth factor (EGF) immunoreactivity in goblet cells of the small intestine by a species-specific antiserum in healthy piglets and piglets with diarrhoea

In several species the epidermal growth factor (EGF) is known to be a poten t mitogen which ensures the integrity of the gut mucosa. In the pig its rol e in the gut was not investigated. Antisera against recombinant porcine EGF were raised in rabbits. The antiserum was used to screen EGF-immunoreactiv ity in histological sections of the duodenum and jejunum of healthy piglets and piglets with diarrhoea. The specificity of the staining reaction was e nsured. Immunoreactivity was found in all goblet cells and their mucus but not in other cells of the gastrointestinal tract. The number of goblet cell s in the duodenum of the sick animals was nearly twofold compared to health y piglets. In the jejunum, the number of goblet cells was less strikingly i ncreased in the piglets with diarrhoea (20%), but the mucus granule size wa s 2-fold. These data support the assumption that EGF from the goblet cells serves as a surveillance factor for gut mucosa integrity in the pig.