title: Acute effects of human growth hormone on liver cells in vitro: a comparison with livers of mice transgenic for human growth hormone.
abstract: We have examined the effects of human growth hormone (hGH), in concentrations comparable to those measured in plasma of transgenic mice expressing foreign GHs, on rat liver cells in culture. This treatment produced, within 24 and 48 hr, extreme heterogeneity in liver cell size, enlargement of nuclei, increase in the numbers of large nucleoli and nuclear protrusions, as well as appearance of numerous lipid droplets and accumulation of glycogen. These changes most likely indicate massive metabolic alterations and resemble changes present in vivo in the livers of mice transgenic for hGH and other foreign GHs. Since morphological alterations in vitro were apparent within 24 hr, we conclude that GH acutely and directly affects liver cell morphology and function in vitro and that the pathological lesions in vivo in the livers of transgenic mice are very likely a consequence of GH action.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung Anatomie, Universität Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vergani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mayerhofer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartke
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic / Q000502:physiology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000187:drug effects*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D013006:Growth Hormone