Induction of heparin binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor and amphiregulin mRNAs by gastrin in the rat stomach.

The present study was designed to investigate whether heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor and its related peptides are expressed in response to gastrin in rat stomach. Rat gastrin-17I (2.5 nmol/kg/hour) or gastrin-17I plus gastrin receptor antagonist, L-740,093 (2.0 mg/kg/hour), was injected intravenously into male Sprague-Dawley rats. RNA was extracted from oxyntic mucosa, and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor and related peptide gene expression was estimated using a ribonuclease protection assay. The level of transforming growth factor-alpha mRNA did not change at any time point during the experiment. In contrast, the levels of heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor and amphiregulin mRNA were significantly increased within 3 hours following gastrin infusion and reached maximum levels 6 and 12 hours later, respectively. Continuous infusion of gastrin significantly increased oxyntic mucosal proliferation. Gastrin receptor antagonist significantly inhibited gastrin-induced heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor and amphiregulin gene expression and gastrin-induced oxyntic mucosal proliferation. These findings indicate that heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor and amphiregulin genes are induced by gastrin and that they play a role in the trophic action of gastrin on oxyntic mucosa.