Expression of epidermal growth factor receptor proto-oncogene mRNA in regenerating rat liver.

The expression of EGF receptor mRNAs in regenerating rat liver was measured using two nonoverlapping cDNA probes for the human gene from a highly conserved region. These probes (pE7 and pE62) both hybridized to RNA species of 10 and 6 kb. The 10 and 6 kb RNA species were shown to decrease in the first 12 hours after partial hepatectomy. However, significant increases above control levels were noted at 24h and 72h. The level of alpha-actin mRNA increased as has been previously reported. These results suggest that a transcriptional and/or a posttranscriptional regulatory mechanism exists in regenerating rat liver with respect to EGF receptor gene expression.