Morphological Changes in the Skin and Wool Fibres of Merino Sheep Infused with Mouse Epidermal Growth Factor

Abstract

Intravenous infusion of 4·5-4·7 mg of mouse epidermal growth factor (mEGF) into nine castrated male Merino sheep for 26 h resulted in complete casting of the fleeces 6-8 days later. The morphological changes which occurred in the skin were studied in skin samples taken before infusion and at intervals between 1 hand 42 days after the infusion had begun. Wool fibres from the shed fleeces were examined with the scanning electron microscope.