These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Effects of constant infusion with insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) to immature female rats on body weight gain, tissue growth and sexual function. Evidence that such treatment does not affect sexual maturation of fertility.
    Author: Gruaz NM, d'Allèves V, Charnay Y, Skottner A, Ekvärn S, Fryklund L, Aubert ML.
    Journal: Endocrine; 1997 Feb; 6(1):11-9. PubMed ID: 9225110.
    Abstract:
    Plasma levels for insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) steadily increase in female rats between 20 and 40 d of life, and this increase is intimately related to the wellknown growth spurt occurring at this age. Since specific actions of IGF-I related to sexual function have been described at the ovarian and hypothalamic levels, an endocrine role of rising circulating IGF-I levels during sexual maturation cannot be excluded. Therefore, the impact of adult-type plasma IGF-I levels during the juvenile age, on body weight (BW) gain, growth of several organs, sexual development, and fertility has been evaluated. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were infused with rhIGF-I (2 and 4 micrograms/g BW/d, using Alzet minipumps), between 20 and 41 d of life. When infusing 2 micrograms/g BW/d, plasma levels for IGF-I were increased 1.5- to 2-fold over controls at all ages studied. They were further increased with the higher dosage, but only after 35 d of age. Plasma levels for insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-1 to -3 were clearly increased. BW gain was significantly increased, but only with the higher dosage. Tail length was never modified. In contrast, a growth acceleration for spleen, kidneys, adrenals, and ovaries was observed with both dosages. The ovarian weight of treated animals represented approx 140% of control animals with the 4 micrograms/g BW/d dosage. Histology of the enlarged ovaries did not reveal any abnormalities. No meaningful modification of the timing of vaginal opening was observed, and fertility was not comprised by previous rhIGF-I infusion during 20-41 d age period. In summary, early exposure to increased (adult-like) plasma IGF-I levels did not modify BW gain or tail length, but affected the development of spleen, kidneys, adrenals, and ovaries. Exposure to supraphysiological plasma IGF-I levels (> 1200 ng/mL), accelerated BW gain and increased the weight of all organs studied. No signs of precocious sexual maturation were seen and fertility was normal. In conclusion, prematurely increased plasma IGF-I levels affected somatotropic parameters, but not the onset of sexual function.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]