Distribution and Number of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors in Skin Is Related to Epithelial Cell Growth

The study investigated the distribution and number of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptors in rat skin, revealing that EGF receptors were present on epithelial cells with proliferative capacity, such as those in the epidermis, sebaceous glands, and hair follicles. In contrast, tissues that had begun to differentiate and lost growth potential showed a reduced or undetectable number of EGF receptors. The research also found that while receptor affinity remained constant, the number of EGF receptors on basal cells decreased with age, paralleling a decline in cell proliferation. These findings suggested that EGF receptor distribution and number played a crucial role in controlling epithelial cell growth and proliferation.