Expression Characteristics of EGF and EGFR in Developing Skin of Goat Fetus

The study investigated the expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and its receptor (EGFR) in the developing skin of goat fetuses using histological methods and immunohistochemistry. It was found that the epidermis formed by the 6th week of embryonic development, with the dermis structure appearing by the 10th week. EGF and EGFR expression was initially low but increased as development progressed, with EGF primarily located in the cytoplasm and EGFR on cell membranes. From the 11th to 16th week, their expression expanded to include various skin cells, and by the 17th week, EGF was mainly found in basal layer and hair follicular cells. The study concluded that EGF and EGFR were crucial for skin development, with a significant correlation between their expression levels.