title: Growth hormone increases beta-cell proliferation in transplanted human and fetal rat islets.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to increase the number of human islet beta-cells after transplantation with injections of human growth hormone (hGH).
  
  
  METHODS
  Human islets and fetal rat islets were transplanted under the left kidney capsule and under the right kidney capsule, respectively in nude normoglycemic mice which were then given a daily injection of 200 microg hGH for 1-4 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Beta-cell proliferation was determined using thymidine incorporation and the beta-cell area was assessed using light microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mice given hGH increased their body weight one week after transplantation and had a more efficient removal of glucose after 3 and 4 weeks. Treatment with hGH resulted in increased beta-cell proliferation in human and fetal rat beta-cells, and the beta-cell area tended to increase. However, serum insulin concentrations and pancreas insulin content remained unchanged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  hGH increased the proliferation of transplanted human beta-cells as well as improving the glucose tolerance of the transplanted mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Cell Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Höglund
authors.forename: Göran
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mattsson
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tyrberg
authors.forename: Arne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andersson
authors.forename: Carina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carlsson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D016332:Fetal Tissue Transplantation; D006085:Graft Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000637:transplantation; D016381:Islets of Langerhans Transplantation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008819:Mice, Nude; D008875:Middle Aged; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014183:Transplantation, Heterologous; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone