Effect of epidermal growth factor on growth and maturation of fetal and neonatal rat small intestine in organ culture.

Small intestinal explants from pre- and post-natal rats were incubated in an organ culture system in the absence and presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF). The rate of synthesis of small intestinal DNA and protein as well as the activity of lactase and alkaline phosphatase increased rapidly between 17 and 20-day gestational age, whereafter they declined. The maximal incorporation of 3H-thymidine and 14C-alanine into DNA and protein, respectively, was significantly stimulated by EGF (100 ng/ml).

Morphological and biochemical changes of the pancreas in rats treated with acetaldehyde.

Daily intraperitoneal injections of acetaldehyde for 10 days to adult rats produced distinct morphological and biochemical changes in the exocrine pancreas, without affecting the body weight, pancreatic weight, and DNA, RNA, and protein content of the pancreas. By electronmicroscopy, although the number and size of the acinar zymogen granules appeared to be the same between the saline- and acetaldehyde-treated rats, the zymogen granules of the latter group showed decreased osmiophilia. Acinar mitochondria of the acetaldehyde-treated rats were found to be slightly swollen with dense granules, and plasma membrane fragments were often seen in the acinar lumen.

Sex-influenced CPIB-induction of peroxisomes in rat lens tissue.

Male and female rats were used for the CPIB-administered inducement of peroxisomes in lens tissue. CPIB treatment enhances superoxide dismutase activity in both male and female rat lens tissue. CPIB causes a significant increase in catalase activity in male and a relatively smaller increase in female rat lens tissue.

Sex-influenced CPIB-induction of peroxisomes in rat liver and kidney tissues.

Male and female rats were used for CPIB-administered inducement of peroxisomes in liver and kidney tissues. Male rats respond to CPIB with higher levels of peroxisomal proliferation than females. Superoxide dismutase activity does not appear to be influenced by CPIB in any of the tissues studied.