We examined four choriocarcinoma cell lines, NaUCC-1, NaUCC-3, NaUCC-4 and BeWo, for the presence of epidermal growth factor (EGF) by enzyme immunoassay and reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction, and for EGF receptor (EGFR) by 125I-EGF binding assay. Specific EGF binding and EGF proteins were detected in these four choriocarcinoma cell lines. On the cell lines examined, NaUCC-4 had the greatest EGF binding capacity (18 x 10(5) sites/cell) and the highest amount of immunoreactive EGF (142 pg/ml). These results prompted us to assess the significance of EGF/EGFR autocrine mechanism in NaUCC-4 cells. Low doses of exogenous EGF stimulated 3H-thymidine incorporation, and monoclonal antibodies against EGF or EGFR dose-dependently inhibited 3H-thymidine incorporation. On the other hand, these antibodies did not significantly affect hCG production. These results suggested that EGF might function in an autocrine manner to stimulate proliferation rather than differentiation of NaUCC-4 choriocarcinoma cells.