Effects of ovariectomy and growth hormone administration on body composition and vascular function and structure in old female rats.
Aging and estrogen-deprivation induce deleterious effects on body composition and vascular function in females. On the other hand, growth hormone (GH), whose production is reduced by age, exerts several vascular effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term estrogen deprivation and GH administration on body composition, vascular function and structure in aged female rats.


METHODS
Twelve female Wistar rats were ovariectomized at 10 months of age. At 20 months of age, half of the ovariectomized rats were treated with GH for 4 weeks. The remaining ovariectomized rats animals and one group of six intact females were used as control groups. After the treatment period, animals were sacrificed and Specific Gravity Index (SGI) and periuterine fat weigh, as well as vascular reactivity and morphometry in aortic rings, were studied.


RESULTS
No significant differences were found in SGI and periuterine fat weigh between ovariectomized and intact control rats. SGI was significantly increased by GH, and periuterine fat was reduced by the treatment. Dose-dependent relaxing responses to acetylcholine and isoproterenol were significantly diminished in ovariectomized rats as compared with intact animals, and GH treatment improved these responses. Ovariectomized animals showed significantly higher contracting responses to phenylephrine, acetylcholine + L-NAME and angiotensin-I than intact rats, and treatment with GH reduced them significantly. Media cross-sectional area was increased in ovariectomized rats as compared to intact animals, and GH reduced this area, but differences did not reach significance.


CONCLUSIONS
GH has beneficial effects in body composition and endothelial function in old ovariectomized female rats.
Castillo
C
C
Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain.
Ariznavarreta
M Cruzado C
MC
Lahera
V
V
Cachofeiro
V
V
Gil-Loyzaga
P
P
Tresguerres
Jesús A F
JA
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004967:Estrogens / Q000172:deficiency; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000502:physiology; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D014661:Vasoconstriction; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D004967:Estrogens; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D010656:Phenylephrine; D000109:Acetylcholine