Regulation of skeletal growth and mineral acquisition by the GH/IGF-1 axis: Lessons from mouse models

The growth hormone (GH) and its downstream mediator, the insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), construct a pleotropic axis affecting growth, metabolism, and organ function. Serum levels of GH/IGF-1 rise during pubertal growth and associate with peak bone acquisition, while during aging their levels decline and associate with bone loss. The GH/IGF-1 axis was extensively studied in numerous biological systems including rodent models and cell cultures. Both hormones act in an endocrine and autocrine/paracrine fashion and understanding their distinct and overlapping contributions to skeletal acquisition is still a matter of debate. GH and IGF-1 exert their effects on osteogenic cells via binding to their cognate receptor, leading to activation of an array of genes that mediate cellular differentiation and function. Both hormones interact with other skeletal regulators, such as sex-steroids, thyroid hormone, and parathyroid hormone, to facilitate skeletal growth and metabolism. In this review we summarized several rodent models of the GH/IGF-1 axis and described key experiments that shed new light on the regulation of skeletal growth by the GH/IGF-1 axis.

Liver-derived IGF-I regulates mean life span in mice

Background

Transgenic mice with low levels of global insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) throughout their life span, including pre- and postnatal development, have increased longevity. This study investigated whether specific deficiency of liver-derived, endocrine IGF-I is of importance for life span.

Methods and Findings

Serum IGF-I was reduced by approximately 80% in mice with adult, liver-specific IGF-I inactivation (LI-IGF-I^-/- mice), and body weight decreased due to reduced body fat. The mean life span of LI-IGF-I^-/- mice (n = 84) increased 10% vs. control mice (n = 137) (Cox's test, p<0.01), mainly due to increased life span (16%) of female mice [LI-IGF-I^-/- mice (n = 31): 26.7±1.1 vs. control (n = 67): 23.0±0.7 months, p<0.001]. Male LI-IGF-I^-/- mice showed only a tendency for increased longevity (p = 0.10). Energy expenditure, measured as oxygen consumption during and after submaximal exercise, was increased in the LI-IGF-I^-/- mice. Moreover, microarray and RT-PCR analyses showed consistent regulation of three genes (heat shock protein 1A and 1B and connective tissue growth factor) in several body organs in the LI-IGF-I^-/- mice.

Conclusions

Adult inactivation of liver-derived, endocrine IGF-I resulted in moderately increased mean life span. Body weight and body fat decreased in LI-IGF-I^-/- mice, possibly due to increased energy expenditure during exercise. Genes earlier reported to modulate stress response and collagen aging showed consistent regulation, providing mechanisms that could underlie the increased mean life span in the LI-IGF-I^-/- mice.

The role of liver-derived insulin-like growth factor-I

IGF-I is expressed in virtually every tissue of the body, but with much higher expression in the liver than in any other tissue. Studies using mice with liver-specific IGF-I knockout have demonstrated that liver-derived IGF-I, constituting a major part of circulating IGF-I, is an important endocrine factor involved in a variety of physiological and pathological processes. Detailed studies comparing the impact of liver-derived IGF-I and local bone-derived IGF-I demonstrate that both sources of IGF-I can stimulate longitudinal bone growth. We propose here that liver-derived circulating IGF-I and local bone-derived IGF-I to some extent have overlapping growth-promoting effects and might have the capacity to replace each other (= redundancy) in the maintenance of normal longitudinal bone growth. Importantly, and in contrast to the regulation of longitudinal bone growth, locally derived IGF-I cannot replace (= lack of redundancy) liver-derived IGF-I for the regulation of a large number of other parameters including GH secretion, cortical bone mass, kidney size, prostate size, peripheral vascular resistance, spatial memory, sodium retention, insulin sensitivity, liver size, sexually dimorphic liver functions, and progression of some tumors. It is clear that a major role of liver-derived IGF-I is to regulate GH secretion and that some, but not all, of the phenotypes in the liver-specific IGF-I knockout mice are indirect, mediated via the elevated GH levels. All of the described multiple endocrine effects of liver-derived IGF-I should be considered in the development of possible novel treatment strategies aimed at increasing or reducing endocrine IGF-I activity.

Liver-derived IGF1 enhances the androgenic response in prostate

Both IGF1 and androgens are major enhancers of prostate growth and are implicated in the development of prostate hyperplasia and cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether liver-derived endocrine IGF1 modulates the androgenic response in prostate. Mice with adult, liver-specific inactivation of IGF1 (LI-IGF1(-/-) mice) displayed an approximately 80% reduction in serum IGF1 levels associated with decreased prostate weight compared with control mice (anterior prostate lobe -19%, P<0.05; dorsolateral prostate (DLP) lobe -35%, P<0.01; ventral prostate (VP) lobe -47%, P<0.01). Reduced androgen receptor (Ar) mRNA and protein levels were observed in the VP lobe (-34% and -30% respectively, both P<0.05 versus control mice). Analysis of prostate morphology showed reductions in both the glandular and fibromuscular compartments of the VP and DLP lobes that were proportional to the reductions in the weights of these lobes. Immunohistochemistry revealed reduced intracellular AR immunoreactivity in the VP and DLP lobes. The non-aromatizable androgen dihydrotestosterone increased VP weight to a lesser extent in orchidectomized (ORX) LI-IGF1(-/-) mice than in ORX controls (-40%, P<0.05 versus control mice). In conclusion, deficiency of liver-derived IGF1 reduces both the glandular and fibromuscular compartments of the prostate, decreases AR expression in prostate, and reduces the stimulatory effect of androgens on VP weight. These findings may explain, at least in part, the well-known clinical association between serum IGF1 levels and conditions with abnormal prostate growth.

Liver-derived IGF-I regulates kidney size, sodium reabsorption, and renal IGF-II expression

The GH/-IGF-I axis is important for kidney size and function and may also be involved in the development of renal failure. In this study, the role of liver-derived endocrine IGF-I for kidney size and function was investigated in mice with adult liver-specific IGF-I inactivation (LI-IGF-I(-/-) mice). These mice have an 80-85% reduction of serum IGF-I level and compensatory increased GH secretion. Seven-month-old as well as 24-month-old LI-IGF-I(-/-) mice had decreased kidney weight. Glomerular filtration rate, assessed using creatinine clearance as well as creatinine clearance corrected for body weight, was unchanged. The 24-h urine excretion of sodium and potassium was increased in the LI-IGF-I(-/-) mice. In the 24-month-old mice, there was no between-group difference in kidney morphology. Microarray and real-time PCR (RT-PCR) analyses showed a high renal expression of IGF-II in the control mice, whereas in the LI-IGF-I(-/-) mice, there was a tissue-specific decrease in the renal IGF-II mRNA levels (-79%, P < 0.001 vs controls using RT-PCR). In conclusion, deficiency of circulating liver-derived IGF-I in mice results, despite an increase in GH secretion, in a global symmetrical decrease in kidney size, increased urinary sodium and potassium excretion, and a clear down regulation of renal IGF-II expression. However, the LI-IGF-I(-/-) mice did not develop kidney failure or nephrosclerosis. One may speculate that liver-derived endocrine IGF-I induces renal IGF-II expression, resulting in symmetrical renal growth.

Endocrine, liver-derived IGF-I is of importance for spatial learning and memory in old mice

IGF-I is a neuroprotective hormone, and neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, have been associated with decreased serum IGF-I concentration. In this study, IGF-I production was inactivated in the liver of adult mice (LI-IGF-I(-/-)), resulting in an approximately 80-85% reduction of circulating IGF-I concentrations. In young (6-month-old) mice there was no difference between the LI-IGF-I(-/-) and the control mice in spatial learning and memory as measured using the Morris water maze test. In old (aged 15 and 18 months) LI-IGF-I(-/-) mice, however, the acquisition of the spatial task was slower than in the controls. Furthermore, impaired spatial working as well as reference memory was observed in the old LI-IGF(-/-) mice. Histochemical analyses revealed an increase in dynorphin and enkephalin immunoreactivities but decreased mRNA levels in the hippocampus of old LI-IGF-I(-/-) mice. These mice also displayed astrocytosis and increased metabotropic glutamate receptor 7a-immunoreactivity. These neurochemical disturbances suggest synaptic dysfunction and early neurodegeneration in old LI-IGF-I(-/-) mice. The decline in serum IGF-I with increasing age may therefore be important for the age-related decline in memory function.

Liver-derived IGF-I is permissive for ovariectomy-induced trabecular bone loss

INTRODUCTION

Estrogen deficiency results in trabecular bone loss, associated with T-cell proliferation in the bone marrow. Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is involved in the regulation of both bone metabolism and lymphopoiesis. A major part of serum IGF-I is derived from the liver. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of liver-derived IGF-I for ovariectomy (ovx)-induced trabecular bone loss.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Mice with adult liver-specific IGF-I inactivation (LI-IGF-I-/-) and wild type mice (WT) were either ovx or sham operated. After 5 weeks, the skeletal phenotype was analyzed by pQCT and microCT. The bone marrow cellularity was analyzed using FACS technique, and mRNA levels were quantified using real-time PCR.

RESULTS

Ovx resulted in a pronounced reduction in trabecular bone mineral density (-52%, P < 0.001), number (-45%, P < 0.01) and thickness (-13%, P < 0.01) in WT mice while these bone parameters were unaffected by ovx in LI-IGF-I-/- mice. Furthermore, ovx increased the number of T-cells in the bone marrow of the femur in WT but not in LI-IGF-I-/- mice. Interleukin 7 (IL-7) has been reported to stimulate the formation and function of osteoclasts by inducing the expression of receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand (RANKL) on T-cells. IL-7 mRNA levels and the RANKL/osteoprotegerin ratio in bone were increased by ovx in WT but not in LI-IGF-I-/- mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Liver-derived IGF-I is permissive for ovx-induced trabecular bone loss. Our studies indicate that IGF-I might exert this permissive action by modulation of the number of T-cells and the expression of IL-7, which in turn is of importance for the RANKL/OPG ratio and consequently osteoclastogenesis in the bone marrow.

Topoisomerase II inhibitors, irrespective of their chemical composition, ameliorate experimental arthritis

OBJECTIVE

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by a chronic inflammation in the joints. The model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) has been extensively used to elucidate the pathogenic mechanisms relevant to human RA and is widely employed for the evaluation of potential anti-rheumatic agents. Etoposide and mitoxantrone are immunosuppressive drugs, both acting by inhibiting the topoisomerase II function. We have previously demonstrated an ameliorating effect of etoposide in CIA. The aims of this study were (1) to assess the optimal ameliorating dose of etoposide and (2) to ascertain that topoisomerase II inhibition, irrespective of the chemical composition of the drug, affects the course of autoimmunity.

METHODS

Male DBA/1 mice were treated with 12.5 mg/kg body weight of etoposide five times, twice, once per week or once every second week. Mitoxantrone was administered as high dose (1 mg/kg body weight five times after immunization or after booster with collagen II) or low dose (3 microg/mouse, 5 days/week starting after collagen II immunization or after booster).

RESULTS

Treatment with 12.5 mg/kg body weight five times or twice weekly with etoposide completely inhibited development of arthritis. Low-dose treatment with mitoxantrone after collagen II immunization or high-dose treatment after collagen II booster delayed the onset of arthritis. These results were observed clinically as well as histologically. In addition, serum levels of anti-collagen II antibodies were significantly lower in mice displaying less severe arthritis.

CONCLUSION

Treatment of collagen-induced arthritis with topoisomerase II inhibitors ameliorates the development of disease.

GH, IGF-I, and growth

Recent studies have confirmed the importance of the growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) axis as the major determinant of whole body growth in animals and humans and have highlighted the significance of IGF-I to human growth. Pharmacological studies in rodents and therapeutic studies in humans demonstrate that recombinant human (rh)IGF-I can induce a significant statural growth response. Mouse gene knockout studies have shown that IGF-I, rather than GH, is the major hormone controlling whole body growth. The relative importance of endocrine versus local IGF-I remains unresolved. In children who are GH- and IGF-I-deficient, treatment with GH stimulates a robust growth response. In children who are IGF-I-deficient but GH-sufficient, rhIGF-I might also be a useful treatment. Furthermore, pharmacological and genetic studies in animals show effects requiring the combined presence of GH and IGF-I, suggesting that rhGH and rhIGF-I together might be the optimal treatment for some children with short stature.

Development of pure prolactin receptor antagonists

Prolactin (PRL) promotes tumor growth in various experimental models and leads to prostate hyperplasia and mammary neoplasia in PRL transgenic mice. Increasing experimental evidence argues for the involvement of autocrine PRL in this process. PRL receptor antagonists have been developed to counteract these undesired proliferative actions of PRL. However, all forms of PRL receptor antagonists obtained to date exhibit partial agonism, preventing their therapeutic use as full antagonists. In the present study, we describe the development of new human PRL antagonists devoid of agonistic properties and therefore able to act as pure antagonists. This was demonstrated using several in vitro bioassays, including highly sensitive assays able to detect extremely low levels of receptor activation. These new compounds also act as pure antagonists in vivo, as assessed by analyzing their ability to competitively inhibit PRL-triggered signaling cascades in various target tissues (liver, mammary gland, and prostate). Finally, by using transgenic mice expressing PRL specifically in the prostate, which exhibit constitutively activated signaling cascades paralleling hyperplasia, we show that these new PRL analogs are able to completely revert PRL-activated events. These second generation human PRL antagonists are good candidates to be used as inhibitors of growth-promoting actions of PRL.

Effects of liver-derived insulin-like growth factor I on bone metabolism in mice

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I is an important regulator of both skeletal growth and adult bone metabolism. To better understand the relative importance of systemic IGF-I versus locally expressed IGF-I we have developed a transgenic mouse model with inducible specific IGF-I gene inactivation in the liver (LI-IGF-I-/-). These mice are growing normally up to 12 weeks of age but have a disturbed carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. In this study, the long-term effects of liver-specific IGF-I inactivation on skeletal growth and adult bone metabolism were investigated. The adult (week 8-55) axial skeletal growth was decreased by 24% in the LI-IGF-I-/- mice whereas no major reduction of the adult appendicular skeletal growth was seen. The cortical cross-sectional bone area, as measured in the middiaphyseal region of the long bones, was decreased in old LI-IGF-I-/- mice. This reduction in the amount of cortical bone was caused mainly by decreased periosteal circumference and was associated with a weaker bone determined by a decrease in ultimate load. In contrast, the amount of trabecular bone was not decreased in the LI-IGF-I-/- mice. DNA microarray analysis of 30-week-old LI-IGF-I-/- and control mice indicated that only four genes were regulated in bone whereas approximately 40 genes were regulated in the liver, supporting the hypothesis that liver-derived IGF-I is of minor importance for adult bone metabolism. In summary, liver-derived IGF-I exerts a small but significant effect on cortical periosteal bone growth and on adult axial skeletal growth while it is not required for the maintenance of the trabecular bone in adult mice.

Liver-derived IGF-I regulates GH secretion at the pituitary level in mice

We have reported that liver-specific deletion of IGF-I in mice (LI-IGF-I-/-) results in decreased circulating IGF-I and increased GH levels. In the present study, we determined how elimination of hepatic IGF-I modifies the hypothalamic-pituitary GH axis to enhance GH secretion. The pituitary mRNA levels of GH releasing factor (GHRF) receptor and GH secretagogue (GHS) receptor were increased in LI-IGF-I-/- mice, and in line with this, their GH response to ip injections of GHRF and GHS was increased. Expression of mRNA for pituitary somatostatin receptors, hypothalamic GHRF, somatostatin, and neuropeptide Y was not altered in LI-IGF-I-/- mice, whereas hypothalamic IGF-I expression was increased. Changes in hepatic expression of major urinary protein and the PRL receptor in male LI-IGF-I-/- mice indicated an altered GH release pattern most consistent with enhanced GH trough levels. Liver weight was enhanced in LI-IGF-I-/- mice of both genders. In conclusion, loss of liver-derived IGF-I enhances GH release by increasing expression of pituitary GHRF and GHS receptors. The enhanced GH release in turn affects several liver parameters, in line with the existence of a pituitary-liver axis.

The somatomedin hypothesis revisited in a transgenic model

Studies of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) gene knockout mice models have clearly shown that IGF-I is necessary for prenatal as well as postnatal body growth in mice. Clinical studies of a patient with an IGF-I gene defect which caused complete absence of IGF-I, verified that it is important for intrauterine and postnatal growth. Recent studies of mice with liver-specific and inducible IGF-I gene knockout indicated that liver-derived IGF-I is not necessary for postnatal body growth, although serum IGF-I levels are decreased by more than 80% in these mice. Therefore, extrahepatic IGF-I is sufficient for maintenance of postnatal body growth in mice. Further investigations are needed to assess whether liver-derived circulating IGF-I is essential for other biological functions.

Effects of growth hormone and insulinlike growth factor-I on body growth and adult bone metabolism

The anabolic action of growth hormone (GH) on bone is well demonstrated by the short stature and delayed bone maturation in children with GH deficiency and in acromegalic patients with increased cortical bone mass. The body growth is regulated by growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). The classic somatomedin hypothesis of this regulation is that most IGF-I in the blood originates in the liver and that body growth is controlled by the concentration of IGF-I in the blood. We have recently abolished IGF-I production in the livers of mice by using the Cre/loxP recombination system. The mice, in which IGF-I production had been inactivated in the liver, displayed a more than 80% reduction in serum IGF-I. In contrast, they demonstrated a normal postnatal growth, indicating that extrahepatic, autocrine/paracrine-acting IGF-I is the main determinant of postnatal growth. GH is also important for normal adult bone remodeling. Adults with GH deficiency have reduced bone mass, and GH treatment increases bone mass in GH-deficient adults. Future clinical studies will determine whether some patients with decreased bone mass for other reasons will benefit from treatment with GH alone or in combination with other treatments.

Impairment of cardiac function and bioenergetics in adult transgenic mice overexpressing the bovine growth hormone gene

Cardiovascular abnormalities represent the major cause of death in patients with acromegaly. We evaluated cardiac structure, function, and energy status in adult transgenic mice overexpressing bovine GH (bGH) gene. Female transgenic mice expressing bGH gene (n = 11) 8 months old and aged matched controls (n = 11) were used. They were studied with two-dimensional guided M-mode and Doppler echocardiography. The animals (n = 6) for each group were examined with 31P magnetic resonance spectroscopy to determine the cardiac energy status. Transgenic mice had a significantly higher body weight (BW), 53.2+/-2.4 vs. 34.6+/-3.7 g (P < 0.0001) and hypertrophy of left ventricle (LV) compared with normal controls: LV mass/BW 5.6+/-1.6 vs. 2.7+/-0.2 mg/g, P < 0.01. Several indexes of systolic function were depressed in transgenic animals compared with controls mice such as shortening fraction 25+/-3.0% vs. 39.9+/-3.1%; ejection fraction, 57+/-9 vs. 77+/-5; mean velocity of circumferential shortening, 4.5+/-0.8 vs. 7.0+/-1.1 circ/sec, p < 0.01. Creatine phosphate-to-ATP ratio was significantly lower in bGH overexpressing mice (1.3+/-0.08 vs. 2.1+/-0.23 in controls, P < 0.05). Ultrastructural examination of the hearts from transgenic mice revealed substantial changes of mitochondria. This study provides new insight into possible mechanisms behind the deteriorating effects of long exposure to high level of GH on heart function.

Glucocorticoid pretreatment reduces the cytotoxic effects of a variety of DNA-damaging agents on rat tibial growth-plate chondrocytes in vitro

It is apparent that cytotoxic chemotherapy used to treat childhood malignancies has a major impact on subsequent growth. Our initial studies have demonstrated a direct adverse effect of individual glucocorticoids and cytotoxic agents on the proliferative capacity of rat tibial growth-plate chondrocytes in vitro. In the present study we investigated the interaction between these classes of agents using in vitro cultures of chondrocytes and examined the potential of these cells to recover from the adverse effects of the drugs as applied either alone or in combination. The glucocorticoids prednisolone and dexamethasone significantly reduced the growth rate of chondrocytes when present in cultures for 3 days. The growth rate increased following the removal of prednisolone and dexamethasone from cultures and reached 83.9+/-0.8% and 62.4+/-4.0%, respectively, of the control values after 11 days of culture. In contrast, cell numbers were significantly reduced when the DNA-damaging agents cisplatin, carboplatin, etoposide or actinomycin-D were present in cultures for 3 days. Very little recovery of cell growth was observed after removal of the drugs from cultures, with cell loss occurring in the cisplatin- and actinomycin-D-treated cultures. However, pretreatment of chondrocytes with either of the glucocorticoids completely ameliorated the cytotoxic effects of etoposide and carboplatin and significantly reduced those of cisplatin and actinomycin-D. Recovery of the cells treated with a combination of glucocorticoid and DNA-damaging agent was demonstrated by a significant increase in their ability to form colonies in suspension culture. Colony numbers were increased by a factor of between 5 and 80 as compared with the cells receiving medium alone followed by DNA-damaging agent. The glucocorticoids offer a protective effect in terms of the reduced cytotoxicity of DNA-damaging agents and improve the subsequent clonogenicity and recovery of growth-plate chondrocytes. This has important implications for treatment schedules involving both cytotoxic agents and glucocorticoids in childhood malignancies.

Chemotherapeutic agents used in the treatment of childhood malignancies have direct effects on growth plate chondrocyte proliferation

Short stature is one of the most well recorded long term sequelae for adult survivors of childhood malignancies. It has become increasingly apparent that cytotoxic chemotherapy, as well as craniospinal irradiation, has a major impact on growth, but there are virtually no studies which explore the mechanisms by which these cytotoxic drugs affect growth. We have used an in vitro system to investigate the direct effects of a range of chemotherapeutic agents on the proliferative responses of rat tibial growth plate chondrocytes, both in suspension and monolayer culture. The glucocorticoids and purine anti-metabolites reduced chondrocyte proliferation both in monolayer and suspension cultures and this resulted from an increase in cell doubling times with a concomittant reduction in the numbers of S phase cells. DNA damaging agents (e.g. actinomycin-D) were also able to reduce chondrocyte proliferation, both in monolayer and suspension culture. This, however, was the result of a cell cycle arrest and subsequent cell death. In our studies, methotrexate had no significant effect on the proliferative responses of the chondrocytes either in monolayer or suspension culture. These results indicate direct effects of a range of chemotherapeutic agents on the proliferative responses of growth plate chondrocytes. Both cytostatic and cytotoxic effects were observed although the impact of either the potential loss of cells from the proliferative pool during chondrocyte differentiation, or the reduction in the rate of chondrocyte turnover on long bone growth remains to be elucidated.

Expression of Epstein-Barr nuclear antigen 2 in kidney tubule cells induce tumors in transgenic mice

The effect of EBNA2 in normal cells in vivo has not as yet been explored. The experiments described here were initiated to follow the consequences of the expression of EBNA2 in different tissues in transgenic mice. EBNA2 transgenic strains were generated using a vector containing EBNA2 encoding sequences under the control of the simian virus 40 (SV 40) early enhancer/promoter fused to the endogenous EBNA2 Wp promoter. Control mice carrying a transgene with the same sequence but lacking the EBV DNA part remained healthy during observation periods of up to 15 months. The SV-EBNA2 transgenic animals, however, over time developed abdominal masses that on necropsy showed to be due to kidney tumors. Histological examination revealed the presence of tumors with the morphology of kidney adenocarcinoma with a solid growth pattern. At the age of 20 weeks the kidneys of all animals investigated showed disseminated islands of tubular hyperplasia but no true malignant neoplasms. At about 50 weeks of age multiple foci of microscopic tubular adenocarcinomas were found in both kidneys. Eventually, tumors could be diagnosed in about 90% of the SV-EBNA2 transgenic mice. EBNA2-encoding RNA was expressed in both non-malignant kidney tissue and in tumors as shown by cDNA/PCR analysis. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblot analysis showed that the tumor cells contained a polypeptide of the same size as EBNA2 in B95-8 cells that reacted with a monoclonal anti-EBNA2 antibody. Immunohistochemistry demonstrated nuclear expression of EBNA2 in hyperplastic tubules and in tumor tissue.

Hormones, body composition and cardiovascular risk

Some 20 compartments of the body may be measured by CT and organ areas determined in 28 CT scans. Advantages of CT are described. While there have been extensive studies of hormones in pre- and postnatal growth, apart from evidence from disease, the role of hormones in adults has been less known. Data on growth hormone and sex hormones, from organ-oriented body composition studies, are summarized, together with implications for the relation between body composition and cardiovascular risk. Sex-specific anthropometric equations allow estimation of LBM, visceral and sc AT with <20% error. In the obese such estimates show visceral AT to be a stronger risk predictor than other compartments or W/HR.

Treatment of deep cartilage defects in the knee with autologous chondrocyte transplantation

BACKGROUND

Full-thickness defects of articular cartilage in the knee have a poor capacity for repair. They may progress to osteoarthritis and require total knee replacement. We performed autologous chondrocyte transplantation in 23 people with deep cartilage defects in the knee.

METHODS

The patients ranged in age from 14 to 48 years and had full-thickness cartilage defects that ranged in size from 1.6 to 6.5 cm2. Healthy chondrocytes obtained from an uninvolved area of the injured knee during arthroscopy were isolated and cultured in the laboratory for 14 to 21 days. The cultured chondrocytes were then injected into the area of the defect. The defect was covered with a sutured periosteal flap taken from the proximal medial tibia. Evaluation included clinical examination according to explicit criteria and arthroscopic examination with a biopsy of the transplantation site.

RESULTS

Patients were followed for 16 to 66 months (mean, 39). Initially, the transplants eliminated knee locking and reduced pain and swelling in all patients. After three months, arthroscopy showed that the transplants were level with the surrounding tissue and spongy when probed, with visible borders. A second arthroscopic examination showed that in many instances the transplants had the same macroscopic appearance as they had earlier but were firmer when probed and similar in appearance to the surrounding cartilage. Two years after transplantation, 14 of the 16 patients with femoral condylar transplants had good-to-excellent results. Two patients required a second operation because of severe central wear in the transplants, with locking and pain. A mean of 36 months after transplantation, the results were excellent or good in two of the seven patients with patellar transplants, fair in three, and poor in two; two patients required a second operation because of severe chondromalacia. Biopsies showed that 11 of the 15 femoral transplants and 1 of the 7 patellar transplants had the appearance of hyaline cartilage.

CONCLUSION

Cultured autologous chondrocytes can be used to repair deep cartilage defects in the femorotibial articular surface of the knee joint.

Clonal analysis of rat tibia growth plate chondrocytes in suspension culture--differential effects of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor I

The number of growth hormone (GH) receptors in cultured rat epiphyseal chondrocytes are increased with numbers of cell divisions in monolayer. We wanted to study if increased number of cell divisions in monolayer influence GH or insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) response in a subsequent suspension culture. Primary isolated chondrocytes from rat tibia growth plates were cultured in monolayer at different seeding densities (4000, 8000 and 24,000 cells/cm2). After a culture period of 7 days, cells were trypsinized, counted and subcultured at 50,000 cells per dish in suspension stabilized with 0.5% agarose. 14 days later the agarose cultures were dried, stained and the number of clones with a diameter exceeding 50 microns was counted. Individual clones were classified as undifferentiated or differentiated according to the following criteria: cell clusters with a diameter of 50 microns and without matrix staining were classified as undifferentiated; cell clusters with a diameter over 50 microns consisting of 4 cells or more and with matrix stained by Alcian Blue were classified as differentiated clones. Human growth hormone (hGH) added to the suspension culture medium increased the number of undifferentiated clones if cells had been precultured at 4000 and 8000 cells/cm2 but hGH had no stimulatory effect on either clone type at 24,000 cells/cm2. IGF-I significantly increased the number of differentiated clones at all seeding densities while no effect was demonstrated on the number of undifferentiated clones. The results from the present study suggest that an increased number of cell divisions during primary monolayer culture increases GH responsiveness in a subsequent suspension culture.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A double-staining technique for detection of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I binding to rat tibial epiphyseal chondrocytes

In the present study a double-staining technique was developed to investigate simultaneous GH and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) binding to chondrocytes in a monolayer cell culture. Rat tibial epiphyseal chondrocytes were isolated by enzymatic digestion and cultured in monolayer. GH and IGF-I were labelled with biotin. The affinity of the biotin-labelled ligands was compared with unlabelled ligands in a radioreceptor assay. To study the distribution of GH and IGF-I binding in the monolayer, chondrocytes were incubated with biotinylated ligands with or without an excess of unlabelled ligands, followed by incubation with Vectastain ABC complex, which was then reacted with diaminobenzidine (DAB). Double staining was accomplished by carrying out the first reaction with DAB in the presence of nickel ammonium sulphate to give a black precipitate, followed by incubation with the second ligand, then ABC complex and finally DAB in the absence of nickel ammonium sulphate to give a brown stain. The presence of type-II collagen was demonstrated by immunohistochemistry and used as a marker for differentiated chondrocytes. Biotin-labelled GH and biotin-labelled IGF-I exhibited dose-dependent displacements of 125I-labelled GH and 125I-labelled IGF-I respectively from the chondrocytes in a radioreceptor assay. The displacement curves were identical to those of unlabelled ligands indicating that the affinity was unaltered. Binding of biotinylated GH to cells was seen throughout the culture in regions where there was little or no type-II collagen staining. IGF-I binding was predominantly localized to cells at high density; areas which also showed a high degree of staining for type-II collagen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Growth hormone induces multiplication of the slowly cycling germinal cells of the rat tibial growth plate

To study the effect of locally infused growth hormone (GH) or insulin-like growth factor I(IGF-I) on slowly cycling cells in the germinal cell layer of the tibial growth plate, osmotic minipumps delivering 14.3 microCi of [3H]thymidine per day were implanted s.c. into hypophysectomized rats, and GH (1 microgram) or IGF-I (10 micrograms) was injected daily through a cannula implanted in the proximal tibia. The opposite leg served as a control. After 12 days of treatment, the osmotic minipumps were removed, and three rats in each group were given GH (20 micrograms/day, s.c.) for an additional 14 days to chase the labeled cells out of the proliferative layers. Labeled cells remained in the germinal layer, in the perichondrial ring, and on the surface of the articular cartilage close to the epiphyseal plate. GH administered together with labeled thymidine significantly increased the number of labeled cells in the germinal cell layer compared to that in the control leg (ratio = 1.95 +/- 0.13), whereas IGF-I showed no stimulatory effect (ratio = 0.96 +/- 0.04). Therefore GH but not IGF-I stimulates the multiplication of the slowly cycling (label-retaining) cells in the germinal layer of the epiphyseal plate. IGF-I acts only on the proliferation of the resulting chondrocytes.

Effects of tri-iodothyronine and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on alkaline phosphatase activity, [3H]thymidine incorporation and IGF-I receptor mRNA in cultured rat epiphyseal chondrocytes

The effects of tri-iodothyronine (T3) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on [3H]thymidine incorporation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and IGF-I receptor mRNA levels were studied in rat epiphyseal chondrocytes cultured in monolayer. Chondrocytes from enzymatically digested rat tibia epiphyseal growth plates were seeded in monolayer culture and precultured for 7-14 days in Ham's F-12 medium supplemented with 10% (v/v) newborn calf serum and 1% (v/v) of a serum substitute. After preculture the medium was changed to Ham's F-12 medium containing 1% (v/v) serum from hypophysectomized rats, and the effects of T3 and/or IGF-I on DNA synthesis ([3H]thymidine incorporation), ALP activity (a late marker of differentiated epiphyseal chondrocytes) and IGF-I receptor mRNA levels were studied. ALP activity was increased by T3 in a dose-dependent manner with a maximal response at 10 micrograms T3/l (678 +/- 86% compared with control culture). The increase in ALP activity was accompanied by a concomitant decrease in [3H]thymidine incorporation (52 +/- 14% compared with control culture). Human GH (hGH; 50 micrograms/l) and IGF-I (25 micrograms/l) had no stimulatory effect on ALP activity. However IGF-I (10 micrograms/l) exerted an inhibition on the T3 (10 micrograms/l)-induced increase in ALP activity (64 +/- 9% compared with T3-treated culture). T3 (3 micrograms/l) inhibited the increase in [3H]thymidine incorporation caused by 25 micrograms IGF-I/l (51 +/- 13% compared with IGF-I-treated culture). Furthermore, IGF-I receptor mRNA levels were increased by 10 micrograms T3/l (137 +/- 4.2% compared with control culture) while no effect of hGH (50 micrograms/l) or IGF-I (25 micrograms/l) was demonstrated. Both T3 and IGF-I were shown to interact with epiphyseal chondrocytes and both substances seemed to affect cell proliferation and maturation and therefore longitudinal bone growth. Furthermore, the results indicated that IGF-I is important for proliferation of the cells while T3 initiates the terminal differentiation of epiphyseal chondrocytes.

High frequency of mammary adenocarcinomas in metallothionein promoter-human growth hormone transgenic mice created from two different strains of mice

Transgenic mice were developed by injecting a mouse metallothionein promoter-human growth hormone (Mt-hGH) gene fragment into the pronucleus of C57Bl x DBA/2J-f2 or C57Bl x CBA-f2 one cell embryos. Six founder animals with the C57Bl x DBA genetic background grew 1.3-2.2 times larger than littermate controls and had higher levels of hGH in plasma (4.6-279 mU/l). Three of the four female transgenic founders developed malignant papillar adenocarcinomas of mammary origin at 27-43 weeks of age. One male transgenic founder was successfully mated and two of three female transgenic offsprings developed mammary tumors. To examine if the tumor induction was dependent on the strain of mice used the experiments were repeated using animals with different genetic background. Fourteen female hGH transgenic mice from five founder animals were generated using C57Bl x CBA-f2 mice. Thirteen of the animals had elevated levels of hGH in plasma (7-1960 mU/l) and grew larger than control animals. Nine of the animals developed mammary adenocarcinomas. Four of the hGH expressing animals did not demonstrate macroscopic tumor formation but have not yet been analyzed histologically. The present study suggests that markedly elevated endogenous levels of GH cause mammary carcinoma in hGH transgenic mice. The present animal model might prove useful for studying molecular mechanisms involved in the development of hormonally induced mammary tumors.

On the role of the peptide galanin in regulation of growth hormone secretion

The effects of the peptide galanin on growth hormone secretion were studied in vitro using cultured rat and human anterior pituitary cells, and in vivo by iv administration of galanin in both rats and humans. Galanin in concentrations from 10 nmol/l to 1 mumol/l did not alter basal GH release, but slightly inhibited GHRH-stimulated GH release from cultured rat anterior pituitary cells. Galanin (1 mumol/l) did not significantly change basal or GHRH-stimulated GH secretion from cultured human anterior pituitary cells. In contrast, iv injection of 1 microgram (300 pmol) galanin to rats induced an increase in plasma GH that was reproducible at repetitive injections. The galanin-induced GH release in rats was of a lower magnitude than the increase in plasma GH after iv injections of GHRH, and was seen with a 5-15 min delay in comparison to iv administered GHRH. In man, iv infusions of galanin (40 pmol.kg-1.min-1.(40 min)) also caused a significant increase in plasma GH, but it occurred 25-30 min after the beginning of the infusion. These results suggest an indirect action of galanin on GH release in both rats and humans, i.e. galanin does not directly affect the somatotropes. In agreement with a central action, no binding sites for galanin could be demonstrated in the rat anterior pituitary by autoradiography. Since galanin did not affect somatostatin release from fragments of rat mediobasal hypothalamus, the stimulatory effects of galanin on GH release are most likely mediated via a stimulatory effect on GHRH neurons.

Immunohistochemical localization of insulin-like growth factor I in the adult rat

Rabbit antisera against native human insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I; somatomedin C) or a synthetic tetradecapeptide, representing the carboxyterminal amino acids 57-70 of human IGF-I, were used to map immunohistochemically the distribution of IGF-I immunoreactive material in adult rats. Both antisera were specific for IGF-I, as characterized by immunoabsorption, immunoblotting and radioimmunoassay. There was no cross-reactivity to IGF-II, relaxin or pro-insulin; substances having a high degree of structural homology with IGF-I. High IGF-I immunoreactivity was observed in spermatocytes of the testis; in oocytes, granulosa and theca interna cells of the ovary during early stages of follicle development; in some lymphocytes and in reticular cells of lymphoid and hematopoietic organs; in salivary gland duct cells; in the adrenal medulla, the parathyroid gland and the Langerhans' islets. Chondrocytes in the epiphyseal and rib growth plates and at articular surfaces showed strong IGF-I immunoreactivity. Brown but not white fat cells were stained. Nerve cells in the peripheral and autonomic nervous system showed faint to intense IGF-I immunoreactivity. In contrast, neurons and neuroglial cells in the central nervous system were generally negative; motor neurons being an exception. Erythropoietic, thrombocytopoietic and myeloic cells in the bone marrow showed IGF-I immunoreactivity, but only at defined developmental stages. Hepatocytes showed faint IGF-I immunoreactivity, but became more intensely stained after pretreatment with colchicine. The present results suggest that IGF-I is synthetized by cells in several tissues and organs in the adult rat. There was an apparent association between the localization of IGF-I and cell differentiation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Growth hormone and experimental cancer cachexia

Plasma levels of growth hormone (GH) and the effect of GH treatment have been evaluated in adult nongrowing sarcoma-bearing mice (C57BL/6J). Prepubertal tumor-bearing mice, tumor-bearing hypophysectomized Sprague-Dawley rats, and malnourished non-tumor-bearing animals served as additional groups of study and control animals. Adult sarcoma-bearing mice showed an increase in plasma levels of GH early following tumor implantation. GH levels increased further with tumor progression. The anorexia and the state of malnutrition in sarcoma-bearing mice were the major factors behind increased GH levels. Muscle wasting and body composition in the tumor-bearing host were not improved by GH treatment at doses that increased growth rate in normal growing mice with intact pituitaries or partially normalized growth rate in hypophysectomized rats. Exogenous GH supported tumor growth and host body growth to the same extent in hypophysectomized rats. Exogenous GH in excess of endogenous GH did not stimulate tumor growth further. It is suggested that increased GH production in a tumor-bearing host acts in concert with other hormones to stimulate endogenous substrate mobilization and in tumor-bearing animals to prevent substrate deficiency and hypoglycemia. On the basis of this conclusion, it is unlikely that GH supplementation to a freely eating tumor-bearing host will support replenishment of host tissues.

Endogenous testosterone enhances growth hormone (GH)-releasing factor-induced GH secretion in vitro

The influence of endogenous gonadal steroids in male and female rats on basal and growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF)-stimulated GH secretion from perifused anterior pituitaries was studied. After 75 min of perifusion with basal medium, freshly dissected pituitaries were exposed to human GRF(1-44) (10 nmol/l) for 15 min. Neonatal (day 1-2) or prepubertal (day 25) gonadectomy of male rats suppressed baseline GH release (ng/min per mg dry weight) as well as GRF-stimulated GH release by 40-70%. This effect was slightly more pronounced in neonatally gonadectomized animals. In prepubertally gonadectomized male rats, the suppression of GH release was completely reversed by testosterone replacement therapy. In female rats, prepubertal gonadectomy did not affect GH secretion from perfused pituitaries. However, treatment of ovariectomized female rats with oestradiol reduced baseline and GRF-induced GH release to levels lower than those observed in sham-operated or vehicle-treated ovariectomized animals. The data suggest that testicular androgen secretion in adult male rats increases the pituitary GH release in response to GRF in vitro, whereas ovarian oestrogen secretion is of less importance for the GRF responsiveness of female rat pituitaries.

Isolation of three electrophoretic variants of rat pituitary growth hormone

A procedure has been developed for the isolation of rat pituitary growth hormone and for the subsequent resolution of the preparation into three variants by preparative electrophoresis. The starting material was whole frozen glands and the process involved homogenization and extraction at pH 6.2, ammonium sulfate fractionation and molecular-sieve chromatography on Sephadex G-100. The separation into charge variants was achieved by zone electrophoresis in agarose suspension at alkaline pH. The purification was monitored by radioimmunoassay and the specific activities were expressed in terms of the rat growth hormone reference preparation (RP-1) supplied by the NIADDK, Bethesda, U.S.A. The three-component preparation and its constituents all had activities in the same range, exceeding the activity of the reference by a factor up to 20 times. Bioassay of the three-component preparation, based on measurement of longitudinal bone growth in hypophysectomized rats gave a potency of 4-5 IU/mg. The reference was the 1st International Standard (bovine) for growth hormone. The yield of the three-component preparation was 3.3 mg per gram pituitary tissue. Different electrophoretic analyses revealed the efficiency of the preparative procedure in separating the variants. The results of the analyses also support the view that difference in electrophoretic behaviour is due to a difference of a single net charge between adjacent variants. In addition, growth hormone was prepared from two side extracts (at pH 7.0 and pH 9.8, respectively), provided by a procedure developed earlier for rat prolactin. The three preparations gave electrophoretic patterns of equal appearance although the relative proportions of the activity peaks differed.

Effects of unilateral arterial infusion of GH and IGF-I on tibial longitudinal bone growth in hypophysectomized rats

We have studied the effect of local arterial infusion of bacterially produced human growth hormone (hGH), insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I), or pituitary-derived ovine prolactin (oPRL) on longitudinal bone growth of hypophysectomized rats. The substances were infused during a 14-day period by osmotic mini-pumps through a catheter which was implanted into the femoral artery of one hindlimb. Longitudinal bone growth was measured by the intravital marker tetracycline. Infusion of 1 microgram hGH per day stimulated bone growth only of the treated limb and not of the uninfused contralateral limb. Infusion of 10 micrograms hGH per day also stimulated unilateral longitudinal bone growth, but the uninfused contralateral limb also showed a significant growth response, probably because local administration of GH at this dose caused a significant elevation of GH in the systemic circulation. As a result, the differential growth response between the GH-treated and untreated limbs decreased compared to rats that were infused with 1 microgram hGH per day. Unilateral arterial infusion of 5 micrograms human IGF-I or 10 micrograms oPRL per day did not produce a significant growth response. The results of the present study confirm the observation by Schlechter and co-workers, who demonstrated that unilateral arterial infusion of GH maintained tibial cartilage width following hypophysectomy in the rat. The results of Schlechter and coworkers and the results of the present study show that GH in vivo stimulates epiphyseal cartilage growth directly. However, an increased local production of insulinlike growth factors is probably of importance for the expression of the direct effect of GH on longitudinal bone growth.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Specific binding of human growth hormone but not insulin-like growth factors by human adipocytes

Binding of human GH (hGH) and insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGFI and II) to isolated human adipocytes from adult subjects was studied. Binding equilibrium for hGH at 24 degrees C was reached at 120 min and half-maximal specific binding at 6-8 ng/ml. Apparent Ka was 2.1 X 10(9) M-1 and Bmax 7.3 X 10(-11) M/10(6) cells. The human fat cell growth hormone receptor recognized neither bovine, ovine or rat GH nor human prolactin or placental lactogen. No specific receptors for human IGFII could be demonstrated. Thus, human adipocytes do not possess IGF receptors but have specific GH receptors which recognize hGH but not GH from lower species.

Imprinting of growth hormone secretion, body growth, and hepatic steroid metabolism by neonatal testosterone

The influence of endogenous sex steroids and exogenous testosterone treatment on pulsatile GH secretion, body weight, longitudinal bone growth, and hepatic steroid metabolism was studied in male and female adult rats. Blood samples were obtained from the tip of the tail, and maximum and minimum GH levels were determined in individual rats to evaluate pulse heights and baseline levels. Longitudinal bone growth was measured using the intravital marker tetracycline, and hepatic steroid metabolism was evaluated by determining the enzyme activities of 16 alpha-hydroxylase and 5 alpha-reductase. Neonatal, but not prepubertal, gonadectomy of male rats suppressed maximum and mean plasma GH levels during adult life. The body weight and the rate of longitudinal bone growth were also decreased. Testosterone treatment neonatally reversed all of these effects. Neonatal gonadectomy of male rats also caused an elevation of minimum plasma GH levels, an effect, however, which was not reversed by testosterone replacement during neonatal life. Neonatally gonadectomized females treated with testosterone neonatally or during adult life increased their maximum and decreased their minimum GH levels. Their longitudinal bone growth was increased. The body weight of these rats was increased by neonatal, but not adult, testosterone treatment. There was no effect of neonatal ovariectomy on plasma GH levels in 3- to 4-month-old female rats. However, neonatal ovariectomy did increase the maximum and mean plasma GH levels immediately postpubertally, suggesting that the effect of the ovaries on GH secretion differs among mature female rats of different ages. Prepubertal gonadectomy of male rats feminized their hepatic steroid metabolism by decreasing 16 alpha-hydroxylase and increasing 5 alpha-reductase activities. Neonatal gonadectomy caused an even more pronounced feminization, which was partly reversed in rats given testosterone replacement therapy neonatally. In neonatally gonadectomized female rats, treatment with testosterone during adult life increased 16 alpha-hydroxylase and decreased 5 alpha-reductase to levels seen in intact male rats. The present results indicate that neonatally secreted testicular androgens imprint the high amplitude pulses characteristic of GH secretion in adult male rats. Neonatal androgens also stimulate somatic growth and partially account for the masculinized hepatic steroid metabolism in the adult animal. It is proposed that imprinting of the GH secretory pattern contributes to the influence of neonatal testicular androgens on body growth and hepatic steroid-metabolizing enzymes.

Changes in growth hormone binding and metabolic effects of growth hormone in rat adipocytes following hypophysectomy

Growth hormone (GH) binding and the effect of GH and insulin on glucose metabolism in rat adipocytes were studied at various time periods following hypophysectomy. Male rats were hypophysectomized at 33-34 days of age. After 6 h, 20 h or 3, 7 and 14 days adipocytes were prepared from epididymal fat pads by mild collagenase digestion (0.5 mg X ml-1, 60 min, 37 degrees C). Glucose metabolism was studied by determining the production of CO2 from [14C]glucose and the incorporation of [14C]glucose into lipids. GH binding was measured in cell aliquots using [125I]hGH. No difference in GH binding to adipocytes was observed between control rats and rats hypophysectomized or sham-operated 6 h earlier. GH binding was significantly decreased 20 h after hypophysectomy and declined further with time after hypophysectomy. Adipose tissue from normal rats is usually refractory to the insulin-like effect of GH. Adipocytes isolated from normal rats were, however, usually responsive to GH immediately after cell isolation, suggesting that refractoriness to the insulin-like effect of GH was lost during the time required for the preparation of adipocytes. The magnitude of the response to GH in adipocytes progressively declined with time after hypophysectomy. The decreased responsiveness to GH with time after hypophysectomy parallelled the decrease in GH binding. The results suggest that the pituitary, directly or indirectly, is necessary for the maintenance of GH binding sites in adipose tissue and that these binding sites are related to the insulin-like effect of GH.

Effect of human growth hormone on proteoglycan synthesis in cultured rat chondrocytes

We have previously demonstrated that hGH stimulates DNA synthesis in cultured chondrocytes in the absence of serum. The present study is concerned with the effects of hGH on proteoglycan synthesis by cultured chondrocytes. Chondrocytes were isolated from rat rib growth cartilage by collagenase digestion, plated in plastic dishes, transferred to serum-free MCDB 104 medium, and incubated for 24 h to establish growth arrest. The cultures were then preincubated for 0-24 h with various concentrations of hGH and ovine prolactin (oPrl) and finally pulse-labelled for 30 min with radioactive sulphate in the presence of hormone. hGH, but not oPrl, stimulated sulphate incorporation with an apparent maximum at 50 ng/ml (approximately 170%). The stimulatory effect was apparent after 2 h and maximal after 3h preincubation. After 12 h the stimulatory effect had decreased to insignificant levels. Qualitative analysis of isolated proteoglycans indicated that the stimulation of sulphate incorporation by hGH is exerted at the level of protein synthesis with little effect on glycosylation and sulphation. Further experiments are required to demonstrate whether the stimulatory effect on proteoglycan synthesis is a specific phenomenon or represents one aspect of a general stimulation on cell metabolism in preparation for DNA synthesis.

Effect of insulin treatment of hypophysectomized rats on adipose tissue responsiveness to insulin and growth hormone

The effects of insulin treatment and dietary glucose on the responsiveness of adipose tissue to insulin and GH after hypophysectomy were studied. Male rats, 130-150 g, were hypophysectomized. Glucose metabolism was measured by determining the production of CO2 from [14C]glucose and the incorporation of glucose into lipids in the epididymal fat pad. Basal levels of glucose oxidation as well as the response to insulin were markedly decreased 7 days after hypophysectomy. In hypophysectomized animals given drinking water containing 10% glucose, insulin responsiveness was partially restored, and an enhanced response to the insulin-like effect of GH was observed. Plasma insulin levels decreased after hypophysectomy. Additional glucose caused a significant increase in plasma insulin levels, but these levels were still lower than those in sham-operated animals. To examine the possibility that endogenous insulin levels are important for the capacity of adipose tissue to metabolize glucose and respond to insulin and GH, hypophysectomized rats were injected with different, progressively increasing doses of insulin for 7 days, beginning on the day after the operation. Basal levels of glucose oxidation were decreased in hypophysectomized control animals and gradually increased in a dose-dependent manner in insulin-treated animals. Basal levels were normalized when the total dose of insulin injected was 16.5 U. In these animals, the response to insulin was enhanced, and there was an increase in the magnitude of the response to GH. Similar results were obtained when glucose incorporation into lipids was determined. The decrease in basal and insulin-stimulated glucose oxidation levels after hypophysectomy were most pronounced when measured at a high glucose concentration (50 mM), when glucose transport is not rate limiting. The results indicate that the changes in glucose metabolism and hormonal responsiveness of adipose tissue after hypophysectomy are, at least in part, dependent upon the decrease in endogenous insulin levels.

Sexual dimorphism in the control of growth hormone secretion

The secretory pattern of GH in the mature rat is sexually differentiated. In male rats GH is secreted in pulses occurring at regular 3- to 4-h intervals. In females the pulses are lower and plasma GH levels between the pulses are higher than in males. The continuous presence of testosterone appears to be necessary to maintain low basal GH levels in adult male rats. Neonatal, but not prepubertal, gonadectomy decreases GH pulse height in adult male rats to female levels. Administration of testosterone neonatally to castrated animals returns GH pulse height to normal suggesting that neonatal testicular androgen secretion is one determinant for GH pulse height in adult male rats. Administration of testosterone neonatally or during adult life to neonatally ovariectomized rats also produces higher GH pulses. In contrast to testosterone, estrogens elevate basal plasma GH levels and suppress the GH pulses under some conditions. Estrogens may stimulate basal GH secretion by acting directly on the pituitary. The physiological significance of the secretory pattern of GH has been investigated in hypophysectomized rats by simulating different plasma patterns of GH. The results suggest that high, infrequent GH pulses with low plasma GH levels in between (i.e. a masculine plasma GH pattern) promotes growth more effectively than an intermediate, rather constant level of plasma GH (i.e. a feminine plasma GH pattern). Since male sex steroids masculinize the secretory pattern of GH and have only minor growth-promoting effects in hypophysectomized animals it appears that the growth promoting effect of androgens is indirect and is due to an altered secretory pattern of GH. Presumably, neonatal androgen secretion stimulates body growth during adult life by irreversibly masculinizing the secretory pattern of GH. In contrast, estrogens appear to influence body growth by mechanisms that are mainly independent of the secretory pattern of GH. Evidence is accumulating that the secretory pattern of GH in the rat also affects various sexually differentiated hepatic characteristics such as steroid metabolism and prolactin receptor concentration. Thus, a feminization of the liver develops after continuous, but not intermittent, administration of GH to hypophysectomized rats. GH secretion is predominantly regulated by two hypothalamic peptides; GRF, and the GH-release-inhibiting factor, somatostatin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Intravenous growth hormone: growth responses to patterned infusions in hypophysectomized rats

Young hypophysectomized rats were maintained with chronic indwelling i.v. cannulae attached via swivels to a multichannel pumping system programmed to deliver GH in a continuous or pulsatile pattern for several days. Continuous i.v. infusions of human GH for 5 days produced dose-dependent increases in body weight and tail length, without increasing food intake. A comparison of GH infusions by the s.c. or i.v. route showed that the direct i.v. route was threefold more effective. Pulsatile i.v. infusions of human or bovine GH at two doses (12 or 36 mu./day, eight pulses/day, 5-min duration, every 3 h) produced greater increases in body weight than continuous i.v. infusions of GH at the same daily dose. Continuous infusions of bovine GH produced a lower growth rate in the second of two consecutive 5-day treatment periods, whereas the responses to pulsatile GH did not diminish with time. Both body weight gain and long-bone growth were affected by the frequency of GH pulses; nine pulses per day were more effective than three pulses per day which in turn produced larger growth responses than one pulse per day. Keeping GH pulse frequency constant and varying pulse duration (4, 16 or 64 min) did not affect growth rates. In conclusion, long-term pulsatile i.v. infusions of GH mimic the endogenous secretory pattern, and are most effective when given at the physiologically appropriate pulse frequency.

The antilipolytic, insulin-like effect of growth hormone is caused by a net decrease of hormone-sensitive lipase phosphorylation

The mechanism of the antilipolytic effect of GH and the cause of refractoriness to its own action was studied in isolated rat adipocytes. Human GH rapidly inhibited catecholamine-stimulated lipolysis rate, with a time course similar to that of insulin, but only in cells which had been preincubated in the absence of GH for 2-3 h. Half-maximal inhibition was obtained with a GH concentration of 100 ng/ml. Parallel determinations of the lipolysis rate (with a pH-stat titration technique) and the extent of phosphorylation of hormone-sensitive lipase, the rate-controlling enzyme in adipose tissue lipolysis, were made. The extent of lipase phosphorylation, 1.7-fold enhanced by previous noradrenaline stimulation, was rapidly reversed by addition of GH, and the decrease was followed by a parallel decrease in the lipolysis rate. The time course and magnitude of these effects was similar to those obtained with exposure of the cells to insulin, indicating that the antilipolytic effect of both hormones was exerted through the same mechanism: a net dephosphorylation of the hormone-sensitive lipase. To study the refractoriness of the fat cells to the action of GH (which was not found with insulin) adipocytes were prepared from hypophysectomized rats 24 h after surgery. With such cells no preincubation was required to obtain the effects of GH on the lipolysis rate and extent of hormone-sensitive lipase phosphorylation. The effects of GH on both of the parameters studied were similar to those obtained in nonhypophysectomized rats. These results suggest that the refractoriness of the fat cells to GH may be explained by a functional inhibition at a site(s) in the series of metabolic events initiated by GH action, which precedes the activation of the hormone-sensitive lipase.

Rat growth hormone and hypothalamic catecholamine nerve terminal systems. Evidence for rapid and discrete reductions in dopamine and noradrenaline levels and turnover in the median eminence of the hypophysectomized male rat

Rat growth hormone (rGH) (100 micrograms/kg) produced 2-4 h after its i.v. injection a rapid reduction of catecholamine stores and turnover in the subependymal layer and in the medial and lateral palisade zone of the median eminence. It is suggested that rGH may inhibit its own secretion partly via reduction of DA synthesis and release in the median eminence leading to increased somatostatin release and partly via reduced noradrenaline synthesis and turnover in the median eminence leading to reduced secretion of a growth hormone releasing factor.