Summary
Hypophysectomized rats were substituted with varying doses of human or porcine growth hormone (GH) as well as with ACTH for 6 or 12 days. Hypophysectomy was performed in animals of 80 or 170 g body weight either 12 or 4 weeks prior to the onset of the therapy. Increase in weight and the width of the epiphyseal cartilage were determined, insulin secretion and biosynthesis of proinsulin and insulin, were investigated in isolated pancreatic islets of the animals. — No differences were found between the effects of human and poreine GH preparations. Weight gain was similar in rats which had been hypophysectomized at a weight of 80 g either 12 or 4 weeks prior to the substitution. Secretion and biosynthesis of insulin which were both found to be reduced in isolated islets of untreated, hypophysectomized rats, were improved or normalized after substitution with GH (1 mg/kg/day) for 12 days. On the other hand, a therapy with GH for 6 days, even in tenfold daily dose (10 mg/kg), was ineffective in all rats which had been hypophysectomized at a weight of 80 g. Normalisation of lowered levels of blood sugar was the only positive effect observed after an administration of ACTH for 6 or 12 days. — It appears from our findings that, in contrast to the administration of ACTH, GH given to hypophysectomized rats for a longer period in relatively low doses may normalize both reduced secretion and biosynthesis of insulin.
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Alexander von Humboldt-Fellow 1970–1972. H.S. was on leave from the 2nd Medical Clinic, University of Vienna, Austria.
Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, Bonn-Bad Godesberg, SFB Ulm 87, Proj. 11.
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Schatz, H., Katsilambros, N., Hinz, M. et al. Hypophysis and function of pancreatic islets. Diabetologia 9, 140–144 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01230694
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01230694