Epidermal growth factor is decreased in liver of rats with biliary cirrhosis but does not act as paracrine growth factor immediately after hepatectomy

Background/Aims: Epidermal growth factor, a potent mitogen for hepatocytes and cholangiocytes, is thought to act as an immediate-early gene after partial hepatectomy. Since regeneration is impaired in cirrhosis, we explored the expression of epidermal growth factor in cirrhotic rat liver immediately after partial hepatectomy.