Kind of gross, but interesting.
Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA.
Many of the anabolic effects of growth hormone (GH) act through insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Systemic administration of GH in combination with IGF-I has been shown to stimulate wound reepithelialization, however, it causes hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia, respectively. We hypothesize that very low doses of IGF-I in a liposome form will have the same positive wound-healing effect when administered locally as the higher doses of GH plus IGF-I given systemically. To test this hypothesis, rats were given a 40% TBSA full-thickness scald injury and received either placebo IGF-I (5.0 mg/kg/day, subcutaneously), IGF-I liposome (0.9 microgram/kg/week, subcutaneously), or a combination of GH and IGF-I, or IGF-I liposomes for 8 weeks. GH in combination with IGF-I showed a significant increase in postburn weight. Wound reepithelialization, measured by computerized planimetry as percentage original wound area, was significantly increased in rats receiving GH plus IGF-I, GH plus IGF-I liposomes, and IGF-I liposomes when compared to sham, or IGF-I (p < 0.05). Results indicate that small doses of IGF-I, delivered in the form of liposomes, are equally effective in increasing burn wound reepithelialization as the higher doses of GH plus IGF-I, or GH plus IGF-I liposomes.
PMID: 9261692 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
Shriners Burn Institute, Galveston, TX 77550, USA.
The anabolic effects of growth hormone (GH) in burned patients appear to act both directly and through insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). We, therefore, hypothesize that exogenous GH plus IGF-1 will attenuate increases in metabolism and lean muscle wasting while promoting wound healing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats, each weighing 440-470 g, were given a 35% total body surface area, full-thickness scald burn and divided into four groups to receive placebo (burned controls), bovine GH (2.5 mg/kg/day), IGF-1 (2.0 mg/kg/day), or bovine GH plus rhIGF-1 (2.5 + 2.0 mg/kg/day), respectively, for 8 weeks. RESULTS: Total body weight gain after 8 weeks averaged 110 g for GH plus IGF-1 compared with gains of 49 and 11 g for GH or IGF-1 alone, respectively. Burned controls lost 24 g. Metabolic rates were significantly reduced in all groups receiving growth hormones. Gastrocnemius muscle dry weight was significantly increased in those receiving GH plus IGF-1 compared with GH and IGF-1 alone or burned controls (p < .01). CONCLUSIONS: Data show that GH plus IGF-1 synergistically increased lean muscle weight, total body weight, and was more effective in re-epithelialization of the burn wound than either GH or IGF-1 alone.
PMID: 8970554 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]