title: Hormonal control of growth in the genetically obese Zucker rat. I. Linear growth, plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding proteins.
abstract: The genetically obese Zucker rat is a widely used model of early-onset obesity. Like obese children, these obese rats are hyperinsulinemic and have low GH secretion. However, data on linear growth and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels in this model are scanty and contradictory. In the present study, we investigated linear growth and its hormonal control in Zucker rats (male and female) from 4-20 weeks of age. In the obese animals, compared to their lean littermates, the naso-anal length was normal or slightly greater, whereas the tails and femurs were shorter. The plasma concentration of IGF-I increased between 4-20 weeks of age, and IGF-I levels were normal or slightly higher in the obese animals. The serum level of IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) measured by Western ligand blotting was not significantly different in lean vs. obese rats. To assess the IGF-I response to GH, bovine GH was administered (250 micrograms/100 g BW, ip, daily for 3 days) to 16- to 20-week-old female Zucker rats; plasma IGF-I concentrations increased more in the obese (percent increase over baseline, 347 +/- 44% vs. 194 +/- 31%; P < 0.01). These results show that despite low GH secretion, genetically obese Zucker rats have 1) normal linear (nasoanal) growth, 2) normal or increased circulating levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3, and 3) increased plasma IGF-I responses to exogenous GH. These results suggest that the GH-independent growth in this model could result from direct effects of hyperinsulinism on circulating IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels and/or indirect effects through increased GH receptor function.
authors.affiliation: Unit on Reproductive and Developmental Biology, St. Justine Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nguyen-Yamamoto
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Deal
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Finkelstein
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Van Vliet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker / Q000254:growth & development*; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D018969:Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins; D011986:Receptors, Somatotropin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone