Description
Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) is a protein that promotes cell growth and differentiation by binding to its receptor, EGFR. Initially, EGF was identified as a secreted peptide present in the submaxillary glands of mice and in human urine. In rabbits, the EGF gene encodes this protein. In experiments with rabbits, EGF was shown to significantly increase intestinal absorptive surface area and transport function. For example, in a colon resection model, EGF treatment in rabbits significantly increased the distal remnant intestinal absorption surface area, along with increased expression of the glucose transporter carrier (GLUT2). This suggests that EGF enhances glucose absorption by recruiting additional microvilli into the brush border