Biomedical subjects

H Oxlund

Publications and source records attributed to H Oxlund.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2003

Low-intensity, high-frequency vibration appears to prevent the decrease in strength of the femur and tibia associated with ovariectomy of adult rats.

The effect of low-intensity, high-frequency vibration on bone mass, bone strength, and skeletal muscle mass was studied in an adult ovariectomized (OVX) rat model. One-year-old female rats were allocated randomly to the following groups: start control, sham OVX, OVX without vibration, OVX with vibration at 17 Hz (0.5g), OVX with vibration at 30 Hz (1.5g), OVX with vibration at 45 Hz (3.0g). Vibrations were given 30 min/day for 90 days. During vibration each group of rats was placed in a box on top of the vibration motor. The amplitude of the vibration motor was 1.0 mm. The animals were labeled with calcein at day 63 and with tetracycline at day 84. The tibia middiaphysis was studied by mechanical testing and dynamic histomorphometry and the femur distal metaphysis by mechanical compression. OVX without vibration increased the periosteal bone formation rate and increased the medullary cross-sectional area, i.e., increased the endocortical resorption and outward anteromedial and lateral drifts of cortical bone at the tibia middiaphysis. OVX also resulted in a reduced maximum bending stress of the tibia diaphysis and a reduced compressive stress of the femur distal metaphysis. Vibration at the highest intensity, i.e., 45 Hz, of OVX rats induced a further increase in periosteal bone formation rate and inhibited the endocortical resorption seen in OVX rats. Furthermore, vibration at 45 Hz inhibited the decline in maximum bending stress and compressive stress induced by OVX. Neither OVX nor OVX with vibration influenced skeletal muscle mass. In conclusion, the results support the idea of a possible beneficial effect of passive physical loading on the preservation of bone in OVX animals.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Subclinical hypervitaminosis A causes fragile bones in rats.

Excessive intake of vitamin A has been associated with an increased risk of hip fracture in humans. This finding has raised the question of whether long-term intake of relatively moderate doses ("subclinical" hypervitaminosis A) contributes to fracture risk. Although it has been known for more than half a century that toxic doses of vitamin A lead to spontaneous fractures in rats, the lowest intake that induces adverse effects is not known, and the result of exposure to excessive doses that do not cause general toxicity has been rarely investigated. In this study, mature female rats were fed a standard diet with 12 IU vitamin A/g pellet (control, C), or standard diet supplemented with either 120 IU ("10 x C") or 600 IU ("50 x C") vitamin A/g pellet for 12 weeks. Fifteen animals were included in each group. The supplemented diets correspond to a vitamin A intake of approximately 1800 IU/day and 9000 IU/day, respectively. The latter dose is about one third of that previously reported to cause skeletal lesions. At the end of the study, serum retinyl esters were elevated 4- (p < 0.01) and 20-fold (p < 0.001) and the total amount of liver retinoid had increased 3- (p < 0.001) and 7-fold (p < 0.001) in the 10 x C and 50 x C group, respectively. The animals showed no clinical signs of general toxicity, and there were no significant bone changes in the 10 x C group. However, in the 50 x C group, a characteristic thinning of the cortex (cortical area -6.5% [p < 0.001]) and reduction of the diameter of the long bones were evident (bone cross-sectional area -7.2% [p < 0.01] at the midshaft and -11.0% [p < 0.01] at the metaphysis), as measured by peripheral quantitative computed tomography. In agreement with these data and a decreased polar strength strain index (-14.0%, p < 0.01), the three-point bending breaking force of the femur was reduced by 10.3% (p < 0.01) in the 50 x C group. These data indicate that the negative skeletal effects appear at a subchronic vitamin A intake of somewhere between 10 and 50 times the standard diet. This level is considerably lower than previously reported. Our results suggest that long-term ingestion of modest excesses of vitamin A may contribute to fracture risk.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Statin given perorally to adult rats increases cancellous bone mass and compressive strength.

Recently, it has been shown that statins increased cancellous bone formation and volume in 3-month-old rats and induced a minor decrease in osteoclast number. In the present study, one-year-old female rats were given simvastatin (10 mg/kg) or placebo daily for 3 months by a gastric tube. Specimens, 2.0 mm high, were cut transversely from the 5th lumbar vertebral body. The cancellous bone core diameters within the cortical shell of each specimen were delineated by a micro-CT scanner and then the cancellous bone was compressed in a materials testing machine between an upper and a lower platen with a diameter corresponding to the diameter of the cancellous bone core of each specimen. The cancellous bone volume was determined histomorphometrically on transverse sections. The cancellous bone volume in the simvastatin group (52.7 +/- 1.6%, mean value +/- SEM) was increased by 23% compared with the placebo group (42.8 +/- 1.7%). The compressive stress of the cancellous bone from the simvastatin group (31.8 +/- 2.7 MPa) was increased by 24% compared with the placebo group (24.1 +/- 1.9 MPa). No changes were found in cortical bone mass and strength after the statin treatment. In conclusion, statin given perorally to adult rats increased cancellous bone mass and increased cancellous bone compressive strength. The cancellous bone was found to possess normal biomechanical competence after the statin treatment.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2001

The growth hormone secretagogue ipamorelin counteracts glucocorticoid-induced decrease in bone formation of adult rats.

The ability of the growth hormone secretagogue (GHS) Ipamorelin to counteract the catabolic effects of glucocorticoid (GC) on skeletal muscles and bone was investigated in vivo in an adult rat model. Groups of 8-month-old female rats were injected subcutaneously for 3 months with GC (methylprednisolone) 9 mg/kg/day or GHS (Ipamorelin) 100 microg/kg three times daily, or both GC and GHS in combination. The maximum tetanic tension of the calf muscles was determined in vivo in a materials testing machine. The maximum tetanic tension was increased significantly, and the periosteal bone formation rate increased four-fold in animals injected with GC and GHS in combination, compared with the group injected with GC alone. In conclusion, the decrease in muscle strength and bone formation found in GC-injected rats was counteracted by simultaneous administration of the growth hormone secretagogue.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Increases in callus formation and mechanical strength of healing fractures in old rats treated with parathyroid hormone.

We studied the effects of intermittent administration of parathyroid hormone (PTH(1-34)) on callus formation and mechanical strength of tibial fractures in 27-month-old rats after 3 and 8 weeks of healing. 200 microg PTH(1-34)/kg was administered daily during both periods of healing, and control animals with fractures were given vehicle. At 3 weeks, PTH treatment increased maximum load and external callus volume by 160% and 208%; at 8 weeks, by 270% and 135%. It also enhanced callus bone mineral content (BMC) by 190% and 388% (3 and 8 weeks). From week 3 to week 8, callus BMC increased by 60% in the vehicle-injected animals, and by 169% in the PTH-treated animals. In the contralateral intact tibia, PTH treatment increased BMC by 18% and 21% (3 and 8 weeks). No differences in body weight were found between the vehicle-injected and the PTH-treated animals during the experiment. In conclusion, PTH treatment enhances fracture strength, callus volume and callus BMC after 3 and 8 weeks of healing.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

Change of bone tissue composition and impaired bone strength in rats exposed to 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126).

The aim of this study was to compare effects of estrogen depletion (ovariectomy) and exposure to 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) on bone strength and bone tissue composition in the rat. Half of the rats were ovariectomized (n=20) and the remainder were sham-operated. Ten of the ovariectomized rats and ten of the sham operated were exposed to PCB126 (ip injections) for 3 months (total dose, 384 microgram/kg bodyweight), while those remaining received the vehicle. The humerus and femur were used for analysis of torsional strength and biochemical studies, respectively. Both sham-operated and ovariectomized animals showed a significantly shorter bone length, lower water content and a decreased torsional stiffness when exposed to PCB126. Sham-operated rats exposed to PCB126 had lower maximum torque when compared with sham operated controls. The PCB126-exposed rats also exhibited a significantly lower collagen concentration, but showed a higher pyridinoline concentration of cortical bone. PCB126 exposure decreased the hepatic level of vitamin A but increased vitamin A levels in serum and kidneys. Ovariectomy per se increased bone length and organic content and decreased the inorganic content significantly, but did not affect any of the tested biomechanical parameters. In conclusion, this study showed that the common environmental pollutant PCB126 impaired bone strength and altered bone composition. It is hypothesized that these effects might partly be explained by PCB-induced retinoid disturbances.

Animals↗

PubMed2000

The influence of combined parathyroid hormone and growth hormone treatment on cortical bone in aged ovariectomized rats.

The influence of combined parathyroid hormone (PTH) and growth hormone (GH) treatment on bone formation and mechanical strength was investigated in femoral middiaphysial cortical bone from 20-month-old ovariectomized (OVX) rats. The animals were OVX at 10 months of age, and at 18 months they were treated daily for 56 days with PTH(1-34) alone (60 microg/kg), recombinant human GH (rhGH) alone (2.7 mg/kg), or a combination of PTH(1-34) plus rhGH. Vehicle was given to OVX control rats. All animals were labeled at day 28 (calcein) and at day 49 (tetracycline) of the treatment period. PTH(1-34) alone gave rise to formation of a new zone of bone at the endocortical surface. rhGH alone caused substantial bone deposition at the periosteal surface without influencing the endocortical surface. Combined PTH(1-34) plus rhGH administration enhanced bone deposition at the periosteal surface to the same extent as that of rhGH alone. However, the combined treatment resulted in a more pronounced formation of new bone at the endocortical surface than was induced by PTH(1-34) alone. Both PTH(1-34) alone and rhGH alone increased the mechanical strength of the femoral diaphysis, and further increase in mechanical strength resulted from combined PTH(1-34) plus rhGH treatment. OVX by itself induced the characteristic increase in medullary cavity cross-sectional area and a minor decrease in the mechanical quality of the osseous tissue.

Age Factors↗

PubMed2000

Growth hormone and mild exercise in combination increases markedly muscle mass and tetanic tension in old rats.

OBJECTIVE: A decline of skeletal muscle mass and strength is seen with aging and immobilization. Growth hormone (GH) has been shown to increase muscle mass. In the present study the effects of a combination of mild exercise and GH on skeletal musculature tetanic tension, dry defatted weight (DDW), volume, water, fat and collagen concentrations were investigated in old rats. DESIGN: Recombinant human GH (2.7mg/kg per day) was injected subcutaneously for 73 days in 21-month-old female rats. Exercised rats ran on a treadmill, 8 m/min for 1 h/day. The in vivo maximal tetanic tension of the calf musculature (m. soleus, m. plantaris, m. gastrocnemius together) was analysed in anaesthetized rats by stimulating the ischiadic nerve. RESULTS: The maximal tetanic tension was increased by 23% in GH-injected compared to saline-injected rats. Mild exercise + GH in combination resulted in a further 18% increase in maximal tetanic tension. The mild exercise by itself did not influence the maximal tetanic tension significantly when compared with saline injected rats. The GH administration and/or mild exercise did not change skeletal muscle endurance, measured as tetanic tension during 30s of stimulation. Serum IGF-I concentration was increased twofold in GH-injected rats. CONCLUSION: The increased muscle mass induced by GH + mild exercise was associated with a corresponding increase in maximal tetanic tension. Combination of GH + mild exercise resulted in a substantial further increase of muscle mass and maximal tension compared with GH injections alone in these old rats.

Adipose Tissue↗

PubMed1999

The effect of growth hormone on rat myocardial collagen.

Growth hormone (GH) can increase cardiac performance, but conditions with GH excess, such as acromegaly, are associated with hypertrophy and fibrosis of the heart. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of GH administration on rat myocardial collagen. Female rats were injected with GH (5 mg/kg/day) for 80 days. The weight of the right ventricle (RV) and the left ventricle (LV) was increased in the GH-treated group compared with the control group (P< 0.001). No differences in the ratio of heart weight/body weight or ventricle weight/body weight were found. The total amount of RV and LV collagen was increased in the GH-treated group (P< 0.001), but the collagen concentration was decreased (P< 0.001). Histomorphometry showed that the area fraction of collagen relative to myocytes remained unchanged. The composition of ventricular collagen in the GH-injected group did not differ from that of the control group concerning the relative amounts of collagen types I and III and pyridinoline, a mature collagen cross-link. We conclude that GH induced a substantial, but proportionate growth of the myocardium without formation of fibrosis. GH actually decreased the collagen concentration, and did not change the composition of myocardial collagen.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1999

Strength of colonic anastomoses and skin incisional wounds in old rats - influence by diabetes and growth hormone.

The influence of advanced age on the mechanical strength of colonic anastomoses and skin incisional wounds in diabetic rats was investigated after 0 (suture binding capacity) and after 7 days of healing. Furthermore, the effects of growth hormone (GH) injections to old diabetic rats were investigated. Diabetes in old rats did not influence the strength of colonic anastomoses after 0 and 7 days. However, in these diabetic animals, the strength of skin incisional wounds was reduced by 27% after 7 days of healing (P< 0.01). GH injections administered to old diabetic rats doubled the mortality compared with that of saline-injected old diabetic rats (P< 0.01). GH injections did not influence the strength formation of either colonic anastomoses or skin incisional wounds in old normal rats. In conclusion, the healing of colonic anastomoses in diabetic rats was not compromised by old age, while the strength of skin wounds was decreased.

Abdominal Injuries↗

PubMed1999

Methylprednisolone does not inhibit the release of growth hormone after intravenous injection of a novel growth hormone secretagogue in rats.

The present study was undertaken to study the growth hormone-releasing properties and growth-promoting effect of a GH secretagogue ipamorelin (IPA) in rats given the synthetic glucocorticoid methylprednisolone (MP). In a first experiment, rats received either saline or MP (5.0 mg/kg) for 8 days. Treatment with MP significantly (P< 0.001) decreased body weight gain, but the acute response to either IPA or growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) in terms of plasma GH was not changed. In a second experiment, venous catheters were surgically implanted. On the next day, rats were randomly allocated to receive saline alone, MP alone (5.0 mg/kg) or MP plus IPA in doses of 0.4 or 1.6 mg/kg/day for 10 days. IPA was administered intravenously four times a day.MP treatment significantly (P< 0.05) retarded recovery from surgery in terms of body weight. Thus, saline treated animals lost 4.0 +/- 3.5 g over the entire experimental period, whereas animals receiving MP lost 13. 6 +/- 2.9 g. When IPA was given together with MP, losses in body weight were significantly (P< 0.05) reduced to 2.3 +/- 2.0 and 1.6 +/- 2.0 g in animals given the high and low dose of IPA, respectively. In parallel with this IGF-I levels increased. In conclusion, this work shows that MP does not disrupt the response of the GH-IGF-I axis to an exogenous stimulus like IPA, and repeated stimulation leads to increases in IGF-I and of body weight gain.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Effect of experimental diabetes and growth hormone administration on the strength of colonic anastomoses in rats.

The influence of growth hormone (GH; 2 mg/kg/day) administration on the mechanical breaking strength of colonic anastomoses in diabetic rats has been investigated on the day of operation (suture binding capacity) and after 4 and 7 days of healing. In diabetic rats, the suture binding capacity was decreased by 26% in both ultimate load and relative failure energy. After 4 days of healing, no difference was observed between control and diabetic animals. After 7 days, relative failure energy in the diabetic animals was reduced by 33%. GH administration to diabetic animals did not alter strength during the first week of healing. We found an increased circumference (33%) and defatted dry weight (22%) of the colon in diabetic rats. In conclusion, diabetes impairs the suture-binding capacity of the colon in rats, while there is only little influence on healing in the following week. GH administration could not influence the strength of colonic anastomoses in diabetic animals.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

PubMed1999

Growth hormone increases cortical and cancellous bone mass in young growing rats with glucocorticoid-induced osteopenia.

The effects of growth hormone (GH) on linear growth, bone formation, and bone mass have been examined in glucocorticoid (GC)-injected young growing rats. Two-month-old female Wistar rats were injected for 90 days with 1, 3, 6, or 9 mg of methylprednisolone alone or in combination with 5 mg of GH. Bone mass and bone formation parameters were examined in the femoral cortical bone and in cortical bone and cancellous bone of the lumbar vertebra. GC administration dose dependently decreased growth, longitudinal growth of the vertebra, as well as the modeling drift of the cortical bone of the vertebral body and femoral diaphysis. In the vertebral cancellous bone, GC also decreased the mineralizing surface and inhibited the growth-related increase in cancellous bone volume. GH increased growth, longitudinal growth of the vertebra, as well as the modeling drift of the vertebral body and the femoral diaphysis, resulting in an increased cortical bone mass. GH also increased cancellous bone volume and the mineralizing surface of the vertebral body. In GC-injected animals, GH normalized and further increased growth, longitudinal growth, and the modeling drift of both the femoral diaphysis and the vertebral body, resulting in an increased cortical bone mass at both locations. GH also increased cancellous bone volume of the vertebral body in GC-injected animals, but GH did not, however, reverse the decreased mineralizing surface of cancellous bone induced by GC injections. In conclusion, GC administration to growing rats retards normal growth, longitudinal growth, and cortical bone modeling drift. It also decreases the cancellous bone mineralizing surface and inhibits the normal age-related increase in cancellous bone volume of the vertebral body. In the growing rat skeleton, GH can counteract these GC-induced side effects, except for the GC-induced decrease in the mineralizing surface of cancellous bone of the vertebral body, which remained unaffected by GH administration.

Animals↗

PubMed1999

Intermittent parathyroid hormone (1-34) treatment increases callus formation and mechanical strength of healing rat fractures.

The influence of intermittent parathyroid hormone (PTH(1-34)) administration on callus formation and mechanical strength of tibial fractures in rats was investigated after 20 and 40 days of healing. A dose of 60 microg of PTH(1-34)/kg/day and 200 microg of PTH(1-34)/kg/day, respectively, was administered during the entire periods of healing, and control animals with fractures were given vehicle. The dose of 200 microg of PTH(1-34)/kg/day increased the ultimate load and the external callus volume of the fractures by 75% and 99%, respectively, after 20 days of healing and by 175% and 72%, respectively, after 40 days of healing. The dose of 60 microg of PTH(1-34)/kg/day did not influence either ultimate load or external callus volume of the fractures after 20 days of healing, but the ultimate load was increased by 132% and the external callus volume was increased by 42% after 40 days of healing. During the healing period, the callus bone mineral content (BMC) increased in all groups. After 40 days of healing, the callus BMC was increased by 108% in the 200 microg of PTH(1-34)/kg/day group and by 76% in the 60 microg of PTH(1-34)/kg/day group. Both doses of PTH(1-34) steadily augmented the contralateral intact tibia BMC (20 days and 40 days: 60 microg of PTH (1-34)/kg/day 9% and 19%, respectively; 200 microg of PTH (1-34)/kg/day 12% and 27%, respectively) and bone mineral density (20 days and 40 days: 60 microg of PTH(1-34)/kg/day 11% and 12%, respectively; 200 microg of PTH(1-34)/kg/day 11% and 15%, respectively).

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Bisphosphonate maintains parathyroid hormone (1-34)-induced cortical bone mass and mechanical strength in old rats.

This study was designed to determine the fate of new parathyroid hormone (PTH)-induced cortical bone after withdrawal of PTH treatment, and to evaluate whether subsequent treatment with a bisphosphonate would influence this. Six groups of 21-month-old rats were used: a baseline group killed at the beginning of the experiment, three groups injected with human PTH (1-34) (62 mug/kg) daily for 8 weeks (day 1-56), then one group was killed and the other two groups were injected for another 8 weeks (day 57-112) with either saline or bisphosphonate (risedronate 5 mug/kg twice a week). Two control groups were injected with vehicle for the first 8 weeks, then one group was killed and the other group injected with saline the next 8 weeks. All animals were labeled with tetracycline and calcein on day 35 and day 49 of the experiment, respectively. PTH increased periosteal (35%) and in particular endosteal mineralizing surfaces (188%), mineral appositional rates, and bone formation rates at the femur diaphysis, leading to an increase in cortical cross-sectional area of 31%. Withdrawal of PTH induced a fast and pronounced endosteal bone resorption whereas risedronate prevented this resorption. No differences were seen in apparent density of dry defatted bone and ash among the groups. PTH increased the mechanical strength of the femur diaphysis; ultimate load increased by 64% and ultimate stress by 25%. A pronounced decrease in mechanical strength and competence was found after withdrawal of PTH: ultimate load decreased by 31% and ultimate stress by 21%. Risedronate, however, prevented this decrease in mechanical strength and competence in these 2-year-old rats.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Administration of a glucocorticoid with depot effect counteracts the stimulating effect of growth hormone on cancellous and cortical bone of the vertebral body in rats.

Our earlier studies have shown that growth hormone administration could not counteract decreased longitudinal growth and cortical osteopenia of rat femora induced by a glucocorticoid with depot effect. In the present study we examined the effects of glucocorticoid on vertebral bone as well as the effect of growth hormone on vertebral bone in young growing animals also given glucocorticoid injections. Five groups of female rats (3 1/2 months) were treated for 80 days as follows: (1) saline, (2) prednisolone: Delcortol 5 mg/kg/day, (3) growth hormone: 5 mg/kg/day, (4) prednisolone and growth hormone, (5) food restriction. Vertebral dimensions, histomorphometry, and mechanical competence of the vertebral bone were examined. Growth hormone administration increased body weight, vertebral height, cross-sectional area, and volume. The compressive strength of the L4-corpus cylinder was also increased due to an increase in cancellous bone volume and an increase in the area of cortical bone surrounding the vertebral body. Glucocorticoid administration decreased body weight, height, and volume of the intact vertebrae. Histological examination revealed that glucocorticoid administration decreased the area of cortical bone surrounding the vertebral body but had no effect on the cancellous bone volume. No effect of glucocorticoid administration on mechanical strength of the L4 corpus cylinder could be detected. In agreement with our findings in cortical bone, we found no effect of growth hormone on vertebral bone when given to animals also receiving glucocorticoid injections. Growth hormone increases longitudinal growth, cortical and cancellous bone mass, and mechanical competence of the vertebral body. Glucocorticoid administration decreases longitudinal growth of the vertebrae and cortical bone mass without affecting cancellous bone mass of the vertebral body. Despite this, administration of a glucocorticoid with depot effect totally inhibits the effect of growth hormone on vertebral bone.

Aging↗

PubMed1998

Inhibition of cross-links in collagen is associated with reduced stiffness of the aorta in young rats.

Collagen and elastin fibres are of major importance in providing the aorta with tensile strength and elasticity. The presence of cross-links in collagen and elastin is essential for the mechanical stability of collagen and elastin fibres. beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) reduces the formation of cross-links by inhibiting the enzyme lysyloxidase. Young rats were injected with BAPN to inhibit the formation of cross-links, and the changes in the biomechanical and biochemical properties of the thoracic aorta were studied. The biomechanical analyses of aortic samples from BAPN-treated rats showed a significantly increased diameter (1.64 +/-0.02 mm), a significantly reduced maximum load (1.08+/-0.08 N), and a significantly reduced maximum stiffness (3.34+/-0.10 N) compared with controls (1.57+/-0.02 mm, 1.55+/-0.04 N and 4.49 +/-0.14 N, respectively). No changes in the concentrations of collagen and elastin were found. The content of pyridinoline, a mature collagen cross-link, was significantly decreased by 49% in the BAPN-treated group compared with controls. No changes in the concentration of desmosine + isodesmosine, the major cross-links of elastin. were found. The present study shows that cross-links are essential in providing mechanical stability of the aorta. Even a partial inhibition of the cross-linking processes results in a destabilisation of the aortic wall with increased diameter and reduced strength and stiffness.

Aging↗

PubMed1998

Growth hormone administration can improve growth in glucocorticoid-injected rats without affecting the lymphocytopenic effect of the glucocorticoid.

Long-term glucocorticoid therapy as it is found in children with kidney transplants results in retarded longitudinal growth. The aim of the present study was to evaluate if growth hormone could improve longitudinal growth in glucocorticoid-injected experimental animals without affecting the immuno-suppressive effect of the glucocorticoid. 117 female Wistar rats were injected from the ages of 2-5 months with either saline, growth hormone (5 mg/kg/day), or glucocorticoid (methylprednisolone 1,3,6 or 9 mg/kg/day), alone or in combination with growth hormone (5 mg/kg/day). Body weight, nose-tail length and length of the lower extremity were measured continuously during the study. After death, femoral and tibial lengths, growth at the proximal, epiphyseal growth plate, muscle mass and immunological parameters were examined. Glucocorticoid administration dose-dependently decreased weight gain and growth (nose-tail length, growth of the lower extremity), lengths of femur and tibia, growth at the proximal, epiphyseal growth plate and muscle mass. Glucocorticoid administration decreased spleen and thymus weight as well as the white blood cell count (WBC count), mainly due to a decrease in lymphocyte number. For all glucocorticoid doses examined, growth hormone increased weight gain and growth (nose-tail length, growth of the lower extremity), lengths of femur and tibia, and muscle mass. The effects of growth hormone were, however, dose-dependently decreased by glucocorticoid administration. Growth hormone injection alone increased the WBC count due to an increase in the number of lymphocytes and monocytes. When the two hormones were administered concomitantly, growth hormone did not, however, reverse the lymphocytopenic effect induced by glucocorticoid administration. In conclusion, growth hormone can increase longitudinal growth and increase muscle mass in glucocorticoid-injected rats, if a glucocorticoid preparation of a short half-life is used. Growth hormone does not reverse the lymphocytopenic effect of glucocorticoid injections.

Animals↗