Abstract
The relative amount of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) mRNA was determined in the liver and skeletal muscle of market weight crossbred barrows (castrated male pigs) using a solution hybridization-nuclease protection assay. Pigs were given either 50 μg recombinant porcine GH per kg body weight or vehicle daily for 24 days i.m. They were fed corn-soybean meal diets containing either 140 or 200 g crude protein/kg (low or high protein). The percentage of muscle in the carcasses of pigs given GH was greater (P < 0.01) than that of controls. Relative to controls, GH increased (P < 0.05) the amount of liver IGF-I mRNA by 2.7-fold in pigs fed the low protein diet and 3.0-fold in pigs fed the high protein diet. The amount of IGF-I mRNA in the muscles of GH-treated pigs was 77% and 84% of control pigs in those fed the low and high protein diets respectively (P < 0.08). GH increased (P < 0.001) the serum concentration of IGF-I 1.6-fold in pigs fed the low protein diet and 2.0-fold in those fed the high protein diet. These results indicate that the administration of GH to pigs influences the relative amount of liver IGF-I mRNA. The increased amount of liver IGF-I mRNA and the increased serum IGF-I concentrations suggest that IGF-I plays an endocrine role in mediating GH-induced muscle hypertrophy in pigs.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 331-338 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Endocrinology |
Volume | 130 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1991 |
Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Endocrinology