Identification of mitogenic factors in bovine whey / by Mary-Louise Rogers

Abstract

Shows bovine whey extract contains small amounts of active growth factors and large amounts of latent mitogens that can be activated by acid treatment. In addition to the know levels of insulin-like growth factor, the major growth factors in bovine whey are transforming growth factor-beta and to a lesser extent platelet-derived growth factor. Fibroblast growth factor appears to be a minor bovine whey growth factor. Preliminary results show an epidermal growth factor-like molecule may be a major cell mitogen of whey extract for mesodermal-derived cells (such as BALB/c 3T3).