Effects of Human Growth Hormone on Erythrocyte Insulin Binding in Growth Hormone Deficient Children

Summary

In this paper, the effect of acute human growth hormone (GH) administration on erythrocyte insulin binding in GH deficient children (N = 6) was studied. Following GH (0.25 U/kg) administration, the blood levels of GH peaked within 4 to 8 h and returned to basal levels 24 h later. However, the changes in somatomedin activity, free fatty acid (FFA), urea, blood glucose and ¹²⁵I-insulin binding to erythrocyte were observed around 24 h following the injection, and there was a converse relationship between maximum percent ¹²⁵I-insulin binding (IBmax) and FFA (P < 0.02). By Scatchard analysis it was found that the decrease in IBmax is mainly due to the change in the number of insulin receptors. These results suggest that GH may possibly affect the insulin binding to erythrocyte indirectly through metabolic changes as a result of hormonal changes in GH deficient children.

Key-Words:

Growth Hormone Deficiency - Insulin Receptor - Somatomedin - Growth Hormone