title: Diabetes-related renal growth and IGF-I accumulation in castrated rats.
abstract: The effects of castration on diabetes-related renal growth and IGF-I regulation were studied. In the rat, prepubertal castration is associated with a normal or increased surge in plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) at the time of 'puberty'. In order to determine the role of sex steroids in the development of diabetes-related kidney growth and IGF-I regulation, Sprague-Dawley rats were castrated at the age of 4 weeks and streptozotocin diabetes was induced at the age of 13 weeks. The development of renal enlargement and kidney IGF-I levels was studied over the following 7 days. Kidney weight in diabetic animals was significantly greater than in controls, and by day 7, had increased by 27% (1.20 +/- 0.03 vs 0.94 +/- 0.03 g, P less than 0.001). Kidney IGF-I content was significantly elevated in diabetic rats, peaking on day 1 (diabetic, 1159 +/- 302 ng/g vs control, 237 +/- 53 ng/g, P less than 0.001) and remaining higher than control levels throughout the 7 days of the experiment. The pattern of diabetes-related kidney growth and IGF-I regulation in castrated rats resembles that of age matched intact postpubertal controls, suggesting that sex steroids do not have a direct role in these phenomena.
authors.affiliation: Endocrine Unit, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jerums
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000254:growth & development / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009919:Orchiectomy; D009929:Organ Size; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I