An investigation of the anabolic activity of somatropin in normal and burned rats.
A 'blind', cross-over study was performed in 10 control and 12 burned rats which were assigned to receive either biosynthetic human growth hormone (somatropin) or placebo for 5 days each in random order. There was a significant rise in urinary nitrogen excretion and rapid weight loss in the burned rats, which also had significantly lower plasma somatomedin levels than control rats. Somatropin administration resulted in a significant increase in somatomedin levels in control rats only. There was no significant difference in weight or nitrogen balance between somatropin or placebo-treated rats. It is concluded that rats with normal pituitary function are insensitive to the anabolic effects of somatropin and that burn injury abolishes the normal somatomedin response to somatropin.
Belcher
H J
HJ
Surgical Unit, Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
Ellis
H
H
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002056:Burns / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004435:Eating; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D008297:Male; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000652:urine; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000378:metabolism
D013002:Somatomedins; D013006:Growth Hormone; D009584:Nitrogen