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N Møller

Publications and source records attributed to N Møller.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

In vivo insulin action and muscle glycogen synthase activity in type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus: effects of diet treatment.

Insulin resistant glucose metabolism is a key element in the pathogenesis of Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus. Insulin resistance may be of both primary (genetic) and secondary (metabolic) origin. Before and after diet-induced improvement of glycaemic control seven obese patients with newly-diagnosed Type 2 diabetes were studied with the euglycaemic clamp technique in combination with indirect calorimetry and forearm glucose balance. Muscle biopsies were obtained in the basal state and again after 3 h of hyperinsulinaemia (200 mU/l) for studies of insulin receptor and glycogen synthase activities. Similar studies were performed in seven matched control subjects. Insulin-stimulated glucose utilization improved from 110 +/- 11 to 183 +/- 23 mg.m-2.min-1 (p less than 0.03); control subjects: 219 +/- 23 mg.m-2.min-1 (p = NS, vs post-diet Type 2 diabetes). Non-oxidative glucose disposal increased from 74 +/- 17 to 138 +/- 19 mg.m-2.min-1 (p less than 0.03), control subjects: 159 +/- 22 mg.m-2.min-1 (p = NS, vs post-diet Type 2 diabetic patients). Forearm blood glucose uptake during hyperinsulinaemia increased from 1.58 +/- 0.54 to 3.35 +/- 0.23 mumol.l-1.min-1 (p less than 0.05), control subjects: 2.99 +/- 0.86 mumol.l-1.min-1 (p = NS, vs post-diet Type 2 diabetes). After diet therapy the increase in insulin sensitivity correlated with reductions in fasting plasma glucose levels (r = 0.97, p less than 0.001), reductions in serum fructosamine (r = 0.77, p less than 0.05), and weight loss (r = 0.78, p less than 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Aged↗

Octreotide and diabetes: theoretical and experimental aspects.

Diabetes is characterized by paradoxical hypersomatotropinemia and hyperglucagonemia. The latter appears to enhance the tendency in imperfect metabolic control to reduce nitrogen balance, and the former appears to accelerate the deterioration of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and also to induce peripheral insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia. In addition to direct metabolic effects, increasing evidence points to an association between hypersomatotropinemia and a number of metabolically dependent, characteristic functional abnormalities linked to the development of late diabetic manifestations. These include increased capillary fragility, lipid and hemostatic aberrations, tissue hyperperfusion, including increased cardiac output and renal plasma flow, and kidney hypertrophy. In theory, octreotide's actions could reduce these aberrations, and, in fact, this has been confirmed in recent experimental trials.

Animals↗

Dose-response studies on the metabolic effects of a growth hormone pulse in humans.

Whereas the lipolytic and diabetogenic consequences of sustained growth hormone (GH) exposure are well described, the metabolic effects of a short-lived physiological GH pulse have only recently been reported. To assess the possible dose-response of such short-term bolus administration of GH, six healthy, male subjects were each studied thrice for 4 1/2 hours after an intravenous (IV) bolus of either 70, 140, or 350 micrograms GH, resulting in peak GH concentrations of 10, 15, and 34 micrograms/L. Observed results include: (1) Time- (but not dose-) dependent changes (P less than .05) in plasma glucose and an acute (from 10 minutes onward), persistent, 40% decrease in forearm glucose uptake. Total glucose turnover decreased steadily with time on all occasions. (2) Time- and dose-dependent increases (P less than .05) in the concentrations of circulating lipid intermediates, with an increase of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) from a basal of 35 mumol/L to peak values of 108 +/- 34 (70 micrograms), 176 +/- 46 (140 micrograms), and 232 +/- 51 mumol/L (350 micrograms), forearm uptake of 3-OHB changed in parallel. (3) Respiratory exchange ratio decreased (P less than .05) with increasing GH doses (indicating increased lipid and decreased glucose oxidation), and energy expenditure remained unaffected. (4) Concentrations of insulin, C-peptide, and glucagon were unchanged throughout all studies. We conclude that the stimulating effects of a modest GH bolus on circulating lipid intermediates and lipid oxidation are dose-dependent. This finding underlines the potential role of GH as a principal physiological regulator of fuel consumption in the maintenance of metabolic homeostasis.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Effects of growth hormone administration on fuel oxidation and thyroid function in normal man.

In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, cross-over study, we examined the effects of 14 days of growth hormone (GH) administration (12 IU/d subcutaneously) on energy expenditure (EE), respiratory exchange ratio (RER), and thyroid function in 14 normal adults of normal weight (eight men and six women). EE (kcal/24 h) was significantly elevated after GH administration (2,073 +/- 392, [GH], 1,900 +/- 310, [placebo], P = .01). RER was significantly lowered during GH administration (0.73 +/- 0.04 v 0.78 +/- 0.06, P = .02), reflecting increased oxidation of lipids. Total triiodothyronine (TT3) (nmol/L) and free T3 (FT3) (pmol/L) increased significantly during GH (TT3: 1.73 +/- 0.06 [GH], 1.48 +/- 0.08 [placebo], P = .01; FT3: 6.19 +/- 0.56 [GH], 5.49 +/- 0.56 [placebo], P = .01). Concomitantly, an insignificant decrease in reverse T3 (rT3) (nmol/L) was observed (0.07 +/- 0.01 [GH], 0.15 +/- 0.01 [placebo], P = .08). GH caused a highly significant increase in T3/thyroxine (T4) (x 100) ratio (1.84 +/- 0.12 [GH], 1.37 +/- 0.06 [placebo]). Serum thyrotropin (TSH) was not significantly changed by GH. No changes in total thyroxine (TT4) (nmol/L) (98 +/- 6 [GH], 111 +/- 8 [placebo], P = .40) and free thyroxine (FT4) (pmol/L) (17.4 +/- 1.3 [GH], 18.6 +/- 1.1 [placebo], P = .37) after 14 days of GH administration were observed. In conclusion, 2 weeks of GH administration increases EE and lipidoxidation. This finding may partly be mediated by an increase in peripheral T4 to T3 conversion.

Adult↗

Growth hormone secretory capacity and serum insulin-like growth factor I levels in primary infertile, anovulatory women with regular menses.

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that anovulation and infertility in women is associated with an impaired secretory capacity for growth hormone (GH). DESIGN: Comparison of the hormonal and metabolic response to two GH stimulation tests in a patient group and in a control group. SETTING: Outpatients and healthy volunteers studied at a clinical research unit of a university hospital. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS: Eight infertile, anovulatory women (luteal phase serum progesterone [P] less than 25 nmol/L) with regular cyclic bleeding. Eight age- and body mass index-matched healthy volunteers with luteal phase serum P levels greater than 25 nmol/L. INTERVENTIONS: After an overnight fast, each subject underwent a standardized GH stimulation test composed of sequential arginine infusion and heat exposure on days 5 to 8 of the menstrual cycle. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum GH, insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), insulin and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA). RESULTS: Serum GH increased in both groups but was significantly lower in the study group (P less than 0.03). No difference was found in the circulating levels of IGF-I, insulin, and NEFA. CONCLUSIONS: Relative GH insufficiency seems to be present in these patients, but the clinical significance of this finding remains to be elucidated.

Adult↗

Basal- and insulin-stimulated substrate metabolism in patients with active acromegaly before and after adenomectomy.

Active acromegaly is characterized by inappropriate tissue growth, increased mortality, and perturbations of intermediary metabolism. It is, in general, not well described to which extent these disturbances are normalized after treatment of the disease. To further assess basal and insulin stimulated fuel metabolism in acromegaly six patients with monotropic GH excess were each studied approximately 1 month prior to and 2 months after successful selective pituitary adenomectomy and compared to a control population of seven subjects. The studies consisted of a 3-h basal postabsorptive period and a 2-h hyperinsulinaemic (0.4 mU/kg/min) euglycemic clamp and the methods employed included isotopical measurement of glucose turnover, indirect calorimetry, and the forearm technique. When compared to the control subjects the patients with acromegaly were preoperatively and in the basal state characterized by: 1) increased circulating concentrations of GH, insulin, and C-peptide (P less than 0.05); 2) increased plasma glucose (5.9 +/- 0.2 vs. 5.2 +/- 0.2 mmol/L), blood lactate (710 +/- 90 vs. 580 +/- 70 mumol/L), glucose turnover (2.34 +/- 0.12 vs. 1.93 +/- 0.12 mg/kg/min), and plasma lipid intermediates and a decreased forearm glucose uptake (0.06 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.19 +/- 0.04 mmol/L) (P less than 0.05); and 3) a 20% increase in energy expenditure, a 50% elevation of lipid oxidation rates, and a 130% elevation of nonoxidative glucose turnover (P less than 0.05). During the clamp the patients with active acromegaly were substantially resistant to the actions of insulin on both glucose and lipid metabolism. Following pituitary surgery all of these metabolic abnormalities were abolished. We conclude that active acromegaly is characterized by profound disturbances of not only glucose but also lipid metabolism, which in theory may precipitate the increased mortality in this disease. By showing that these abnormalities and the concomitant overall insulin resistance can be completely reversed our results may also have important implications for other insulin-resistant states and for the potential therapeutic use of GH.

Acromegaly↗

Effects of a physiological growth hormone pulse on substrate metabolism in insulin-dependent (type 1) diabetic subjects.

When present in inappropriate amounts GH induces substantial insulin resistance and it has furthermore been suggested that modest nocturnal surges of GH may precipitate the emergence of the dawn phenomenon. To characterize the metabolic effects of physiologically relevant, small-scale GH exposure, six type 1 diabetic subjects were studied for 5 h in the postabsorptive state after an iv pulse of either 210 micrograms GH or saline. Identical amounts of insulin were infused on both occasions to maintain a prevailing blood glucose concentration of 125 +/- 12 mg/100 ml. The GH bolus caused an increase in serum GH levels to a peak value of 22 +/- 2 micrograms/L after 10 min, a 70% increase in serum FFA (from 570 +/- 80 to 980 +/- 60 mumol/L) and a 400% increase in blood 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-OHB) (from 100 +/- 15 to 420 +/- 35 mumol/l) concentrations after 180 and 240 min respectively (P less than 0.05). Blood glycerol and forearm uptake of 3-OHB rose in parallel (P less than 0.01). Plasma glucose, isotopically measured glucose turnover and forearm glucose uptake was not affected by GH. Blood lactate concentrations increased (P less than 0.05) and nonoxidative glucose use and lipid oxidation tended to increase with GH. Energy expenditure remained unaffected. These results suggest that under everyday conditions GH acts as an important regulator of fuel fluxes in type 1 diabetic subjects, the main effect being a transient stimulation of lipolysis. Since no significant effect on glucose metabolism was recorded, we do not presently find evidence to support a primary role for small surges of GH in the pathogenesis of the dawn phenomenon.

Adult↗

Lack of effects of hypoglycemia on glucose absorption in healthy men.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of hypoglycemia on glucose absorption by examining the systemic appearance of 3-OMG (a glucose analogue that is transported by the same mechanism as glucose) after oral administration. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Six healthy males 22-31 yr of age were studied during a hypoglycemic (50 mg [2.7 mM]/100 ml) and a euglycemic (90 mg [5.0 mM]/100 ml) glucose clamp. At 50 min after exposure to insulin, an oral glucose load containing 20 g of glucose and 4.5 g of 3-OMG dissolved in 300 ml of tap water was administered. Insulin administration was interrupted 30 min after oral glucose administration. RESULTS: Plasma glucose was clamped at 88 +/- 1.3 mg (4.9 +/- 0.1 mM)/100 ml during euglycemia and at 50 +/- 1.9 mg (2.7 +/- 0.1 mM)/100 ml during hypoglycemia. Concentrations of glucagon, growth hormone, cortisol, and epinephrine were significantly elevated during hypoglycemia. After 60 min, circulating 3-OMG concentrations increased to zeniths of 11.4 +/- 0.2 mg (585 +/- 10.0 mM)/100 ml (hypoglycemia) and 11.6 +/- 1.1 mg (585 +/- 56.0 microM)/100 ml (euglycemia; P = 0.95). Absorption of 3-OMG was evident between 15 and 20 min after administrations in both situations. Serum insulin was significantly lower during hypoglycemia compared with the control situation (345 +/- 50 microM [hypoglycemia], 445 +/- 50 microM [euglycemia], P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that hypoglycemia does not seem to affect intestinal absorption of glucose as judged by systemic appearance of 3-OMG.

3-O-Methylglucose↗

Decreased hepatic glucagon responses in type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus.

The effect of glucagon infusion on hepatic glucose production during euglycaemia was evaluated in seven Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients and in ten control subjects. In the diabetic subjects normoglycaemia was maintained during the night preceding the study by a variable intravenous insulin and glucose infusion. During the study endogenous insulin secretion was suppressed by somatostatin (450 micrograms/h) and replaced by insulin infusion (0.15 mU.kg-1.min-1). 3H-glucose was infused for isotopic determination of glucose turnover. Plasma glucose was clamped at 5 mmol/l for 2 h 30 min and glucagon (1.5 ng.kg-1.min-1) was then infused for the following 3 h. Hepatic glucose production and glucose utilisation were measured during the first, second and third hour of the glucagon infusion. Basal hepatic glucose production (just prior to glucagon infusion) was similar in diabetic (1.2 +/- 0.3 mg.kg-1.min-1) and control (1.6 +/- 0.1 mg.kg-1.min-1) subjects. In diabetic patients hepatic glucose production rose slowly to 2.1 +/- 0.5 mg.kg-1.min-1 during the first hours of glucagon infusion and stabilized at this level (2.4 +/- 0.5 mg.kg-1.min-1) in the third hour. In control subjects hepatic glucose production increased sharply to higher levels than in the diabetic subjects (3.4 +/- 0.3 mg.kg-1.min-1) during the first and second hour of glucagon infusion (p less than 0.05) and then gradually fell (2.9 +/- 0.4 mg.kg-1.min-1) during the third hour. In conclusion, when stimulated with glucagon at a physiologic plasma concentration diabetic patients had 1) an overall reduced hepatic glucose production response and 2) an abnormal sluggish response pattern.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Basal and insulin stimulated substrate metabolism in tumour induced hypoglycaemia; evidence for increased muscle glucose uptake.

While it has very recently been reported that tumour induced hypoglycaemia is characterised by elevated production of insulin-like growth factor 2, the tissues responsible for induction of hypoglycaemia are largely unknown. We have investigated a patient with a large retroperitoneal mass and spontaneous hypoglycaemia. When compared to a reference population the patient displayed: (1) An increased glucose disposal rate and a five-fold elevation of forearm glucose uptake. (2) A decreased endogenous glucose production rate. (3) Decreased circulating levels of lipid intermediates. (4) Increased glucose oxidation and decreased lipid oxidation. (5) Low circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor 2 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 and normal levels of insulin-like growth factor 1. (6) Normal insulin sensitivity (euglycaemic glucose clamp). Blood concentrations of insulin, C-peptide, proinsulin, glucagon, growth hormone and catecholamines were within normal range, but the growth hormone response to hypoglycaemia was blunted. The data suggest that the mechanisms behind tumour induced hypoglycaemia are of systemic nature and that the tissue most prominently affected is striated muscle.

Blood Glucose↗

Effects of hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia on insulin receptor function and glycogen synthase activation in skeletal muscle of normal man.

Insulin receptor function, glycogen synthase activity, and activation by phosphatases were studied in biopsies of human skeletal muscle under conditions of hyperglycemia and/or hyperinsulinemia for 150 minutes. Twenty-one healthy volunteers underwent either (A) a hyperinsulinemic, euglycemic clamp (serum insulin, 160.0 +/- 7.7 mU/L; plasma glucose, 4.9 +/- 0.1 mmol/L; n = 9), (B) a hyperglycemic clamp during normoinsulinemia (serum insulin, 18.1 +/- 3.3 mU/L; plasma glucose, 12.9 +/- 0.2 mmol/L; n = 6), or (C) a combined hyperinsulinemic, hyperglycemic clamp (serum insulin, 158.3 +/- 15.0 mU/L; plasma glucose, 11.4 +/- 0.8 mmol/L; n = 6). During all studies, the endogenous insulin secretion was inhibited with somatostatin. Insulin binding and kinase activity of insulin receptors solubilized from vastus lateralis muscle biopsies were unaffected by hyperglycemia and/or hyperinsulinemia. Hyperinsulinemia activated the muscle glycogen synthase with a decrease in the half-maximal activation constant (A0.5) for glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) from 0.53 +/- 0.04 to 0.21 +/- 0.02 mmol/L (study A, P less than .02) and from 0.53 +/- 0.06 to 0.19 +/- 0.05 mmol/L (study C, P less than .03). In addition, the rate of glycogen synthase activation by phosphatases increased from 0.078 +/- 0.017 to 0.134 +/- 0.029 U/min/mg protein (study A, P less than .03) and from 0.082 +/- 0.013 to 0.145 +/- 0.033 U/min/mg protein (study C, P = .05). Hyperglycemia during normoinsulinemia did not affect A0.5 or phosphatase activity. In conclusion, (1) hyperinsulinemia for 2 1/2 hours increases glycogen synthase activity and activation by phosphatases independently on the glycemia; and (2) insulin receptor binding and basal and insulin-stimulated receptor kinase activity are not modified during short-term hyperinsulinemia and/or hyperglycemia.

Enzyme Activation↗

Fuel metabolism in a pig myocutaneous island flap model.

Unilateral denervated myocutaneous island flaps based on the superior epigastric vessels were raised in 24 pigs and the metabolic changes during the first 6 postoperative hours were monitored. Secondary to flap elevation, decreased arteriovenous (A-V) differences in oxygen, glucose, and alanine levels were observed, indicating the opening of A-V shunts and increased arterialization of the venous blood. Venous outflow increased during the first 3 hours, but the A-V differences in all metabolites were constant over the entire 6-hour observation period. Exchange of intermediary metabolites therefore increased within the first 3 hours, after which a steady state was established. The main flap fuels seemed to be fatty acids, muscle proteins, and glycogen, whereas blood-borne carbohydrates and ketone bodies played only a minor role as energy sources. Anaerobic metabolism was increased secondary to flap elevation from 2 to 6 percent as compared with preelevation values. No changes were found in concentrations of plasma catecholamines, which were constantly high. An average weight gain of 3 to 4 percent per hour was equally distributed to skin, subcutis, panniculus carnosus, and muscle. Thus the flap seemed to adapt to the new perfusion pattern within a few hours by a slightly increased anaerobic metabolism, but still with an oxidative metabolism of more than 90 percent.

3-Hydroxybutyric Acid↗

Carbohydrate tolerance and serum lipids in acromegaly before and during treatment with high dose octreotide.

Carbohydrate tolerance and serum lipids were studied in 14 patients with acromegaly before and in response to treatment with high dose somatostatin analogue (octreotide) over a 14-week period. Patients were assessed with respect to growth hormone (GH) profile, IGF1, HbA1, fasting lipids, and the GH, glucose, and insulin response to a standard 75 g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) before and during therapy. Prior to treatment mean fasting serum insulin levels were 11.7 +/- 2.8 (+/- SE) mU I-1 with a mean insulin response to OGTT of 49.8 +/- 10.8 mU I-1. Twelve of the 14 patients responded to octreotide with a reduction in mean 24-h serum GH (32.9 +/- 9.3 to 4.3 +/- 0.9 mU I-1), suppression of GH at 60 min during OGTT (3.0 +/- 0.8 mU I-1) and normalization of serum IGF1 (71 +/- 7 to 27 +/- 3 (normal 9-48 nmol I-1)). In this group the fasting insulin levels fell to 2.2 +/- 0.7 mU I-1 (p less than 0.01), and mean insulin response during OGTT was reduced (46.6 +/- 15.0 to 12.3 +/- 2.3 mU I-1) (p less than 0.01). Despite the reduction in insulin secretion there was no significant deterioration in fasting blood glucose (4.8 +/- 0.2 vs 4.6 +/- 0.4 mmol I-1), HbA1 (7.2 +/- 0.3 vs 6.8 +/- 0.3%) or mean blood glucose response to OGTT (7.9 +/- 0.7 vs 8.2 +/- 0.5 mmol I-1). Fasting triglycerides were reduced with treatment from 1.5 +/- 0.2 to 1.1 +/- 0.1 mmol I-1 (p = 0.04) in the responsive group, but serum cholesterol levels were not significantly altered (5.3 +/- 0.3 vs 5.2 +/- 0.3 mmol I-1).

Acromegaly↗

Effects of growth hormone on fuel utilization and muscle glycogen synthase activity in normal humans.

To examine the insulin antagonistic effects of growth hormone (GH), seven healthy subjects underwent, in random order, two 5-h euglycemic clamp studies with moderate hyperinsulinemia. A GH infusion (45 ng.kg-1.min-1) was given throughout one of the studies. GH inhibited the insulin-stimulated glucose disposal by 27% from 4.4 +/- 0.7 to 3.3 +/- 0.4 mg.kg-1.min-1 (P less than 0.02) and raised the nonprotein energy expenditures (NPEE) from 18.7 +/- 0.5 to 20.5 +/- 0.3 kcal.kg-1.24 h-1 (P less than 0.03). Lipid oxidation contributed 71.7 +/- 5.6% of NPEE during the GH infusion as compared with 48.7 +/- 5.2% during the control clamp (P less than 0.02). In skeletal muscle biopsies, insulin binding to wheat germ agglutinin-purified insulin receptors and insulin receptor kinase activity were unaffected by GH infusion. Glycogen synthase activation by insulin was inhibited by 41% during the GH clamp (fractional velocity 14.1 +/- 2.5 vs. 8.3 +/- 1.4%, P less than 0.03). In conclusion, GH 1) increases energy expenditures and inhibits glucose oxidation in favor of an increased lipid oxidation, and 2) inhibits insulin-mediated activation of the glycogen synthase in skeletal muscle biopsies by a mechanism distal to insulin receptor binding and kinase activity.

Adult↗

Short-term changes in serum insulin-like growth factors (IGF) and IGF binding protein 3 after different modes of intravenous growth hormone (GH) exposure in GH-deficient patients.

Virtually all circulating insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF-I and IGF-II) are bound to specific binding proteins (IGFBP), of which IGFBP-3 is the quantitatively most important. The mechanisms regulating the close coordination between serum levels of IGFs and IGFBP-3 is poorly understood. We therefore evaluated the temporal association of serum IGF-I, IGF-II, and IGFBP-3 measured by RIAs after well defined short-term GH exposure in GH-deficient patients. Six patients (mean +/- SE age: 20.5 +/- 1.1 yr) each underwent three GH study protocols in random order. Each study was preceded by 4 weeks without GH therapy. Two units of GH were administered iv as either: 1) two boluses, 2) eight boluses, or 3) a constant infusion. The duration of each study was 44 h including at least 16 h after termination of GH administration. Increments in serum IGF-I occurred 4-6 h after initiated GH exposure in all studies. In the two-bolus study the IGF-I increase was modest with mean +/- SE peak values of 12.4 +/- 2.1 nmol x L-1 after GH administration. In the eight bolus and constant infusion studies significantly higher IGF-I levels were generated: 17.0 +/- 2.2 nmol x L-1 (8 bolus) and 18.8 +/- 1.1 h nmol x L-1 (infusion). In contrast the time course change in serum IGF-II did not differ in the three studies, and it was characterised by a sluggish increase of approximately 30% evidenced after 16-20 h. The changes in IGFBP-3 were almost identical in the three studies. After a lag phase of approximately 18-20 h a gradual increase of approximately 40%, which had not ceased at the end of the study period, was observed. The molar ratio of serum IGF-I plus IGF-II:serum IGFBP-3 remained constant with values between 0.8-0.9 except in the constant infusion experiment, in which the ratio increased significantly with time reaching a mean peak value, which exceeded 1.0, after 24 h. Our data suggest that a pulsatile GH pattern is not superior to constant GH levels as regards generation of IGFs and IGFBP. The earlier increase in serum IGF-I compared to IGF-II and IGFBP-3 suggests that IGF-I may be the main regulator of IGFBP-3 production. Accordingly, the slow increase in serum IGF-II, which paralleled that of IGFBP-3, could indicate that serum IGF-II levels mainly depend on the concentration or binding site availability of IGFBP-3.

Adult↗

Expansion of extracellular volume and suppression of atrial natriuretic peptide after growth hormone administration in normal man.

Sodium retention and symptoms and signs of fluid retention are commonly recorded during GH administration in both GH-deficient patients and normal subjects. Most reports have however, been casuistic or uncontrolled. In a randomized double blind placebo-controlled cross-over study we therefore examined the effect of 14-day GH administration (12 IU sc at 2000 h) on plasma volume, extracellular volume (ECV), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), arginine vasopressin, and the renin angiotensin system in eight healthy adult men. A significant GH induced increase in serum insulin growth factor I was observed. GH caused a significant increase in ECV (L): 20.45 +/- 0.45 (GH), 19.53 +/- 0.48 (placebo) (P less than 0.01), whereas plasma volume (L) remained unchanged 3.92 +/- 0.16 (GH), 4.02 +/- 0.13 (placebo). A significant decrease in plasma ANP (pmol/L) after GH administration was observed: 2.28 +/- 0.54 (GH), 3.16 +/- 0.53 (placebo) P less than 0.01. Plasma aldosterone (pmol/L): 129 +/- 14 (GH), 89 +/- 17 (placebo), P = 0.08, and plasma angiotensin II (pmol/L) levels: 18 +/- 12 (GH), 14 +/- 7 (placebo), P = 0.21, were not significantly elevated. No changes in plasma arginine vasopressin occurred (1.86 +/- 0.05 pmol/L vs. 1.90 +/- 0.05, P = 0.33). Serum sodium and blood pressure remained unaffected. Moderate complaints, which could be ascribed to water retention, were recorded in four subjects [periorbital edema (n = 3), acral paraesthesia (n = 2) and light articular pain (n = 1)]. The symptoms were most pronounced after 2-3 days of treatment and diminished at the end of the period. In summary, 14 days of high dose GH administration caused a significant increase in ECV and a significant suppression of ANP.

Adult↗

Effects of growth hormone on glucose metabolism.

Growth hormone (GH) counteracts in general the effects of insulin on glucose and lipid metabolism, but shares protein anabolic properties with insulin. Under physiological circumstances GH does not affect total glucose turnover directly. There is however evidence that GH acutely decreases glucose oxidation (secondary to an increase in lipid oxidation) and suppresses muscle uptake of glucose, suggesting that GH redistributes glucose fluxes into a non-oxidative pathway, which could be a build up of glycogen depots through gluconeogenesis. Since GH secretion is inhibited in the fed state these actions are mainly important in the postprandial or fasting state. Under pathological conditions of GH excess (e.g. acromegaly, poorly controlled tp. 1 diabetes or high dose GH treatment) the diabetogenic actions of GH become apparent. In these patients increased endogenous glucose production, decreased muscle glucose uptake and rising blood glucose levels are observed. In patients with intact beta-cell function these changes are counterbalanced by hyperinsulinemia--such hyperinsulinemia may in the long term induce increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality ('Reavens syndrome X'). When stimulated with insulin these patients exhibit insulin resistance at the liver, in adipose tissue and in muscle. Few elaborate studies on the effects of GH on glucose metabolism in GH deficient patients have been conducted. These patients are hypersensitive to the actions of insulin on glucose metabolism and there is some evidence that when GH initially is given to such patients in the GH deprived state, paradox insulin-like effects of GH may be observed. Whether this may relate to increased activity of insulin-like growth factors is unsettled.

Acromegaly↗