Table 6.
Important trophic factors involved in gut development and the most relevant reference articles
| Trophic factor | Ref. | n of references cited |
| EGF | Maheshwari (2004)[24] | 36 |
| Underwood (2005)[18] | 63 | |
| Playford (1996)[29] | 23 | |
| Cummins (2002)[15] | 108 | |
| HGF | Maheshwari (2004)[24] | 36 |
| Underwood (2005)[18] | 63 | |
| Cummins (2002)[15] | 108 | |
| TGF-α and TGF-β | Maheshwari (2004)[24] | 36 |
| Seare (1998)[56] | 32 | |
| Underwood (2005)[18] | 63 | |
| Cummins (2002)[15] | 108 | |
| IGF-1 | Maheshwari (2004)[24] | 36 |
| Underwood (2005)[18] | 63 | |
| Seare (1998)[56] | 32 | |
| Cummins (2002)[15] | 108 | |
| Cytokines | Maheshwari (2004)[24] | 36 |
| Seare (1998)[56] | 32 |
IGF-1: Insulin like growth factor-1; TGF: Transforming growth factor; EGF: Epidermal growth factor; HGF: Hepatocyte growth factor.