Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-I and mesangial matrix in uremic rats

Combined growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) therapy has been advocated for clinical use to minimize the diabetogenic effect of GH and enhance their anabolic effects. However, GH has been shown to accelerate the development of glomerular sclerosis in experimental animals and IGF-I mediates the renal effects of GH. The purpose of this study was therefore to examine morphometrically the effects of GH (1 mg intraperitoneally three times a week), IGF-I (50 g/kg body weight subcutaneously twice a day), and combined GH/IGF-I treatments in vivo on mesangial matrix at 3–20 days after 5/6 nephrectomy in 140- to 150-g rats. There were no significant changes in growth and renal function after GH and/or IGF-I treatment. The effects of GH and IGF-I on glomerular size were additive, which were more prominent in juxtamedullary glomeruli. GH induced proportional increases in mesangial area (MA) and glomerular area (GA), whereas IGF-I induced a similar increase in GA without a corresponding change in MA. When compared with GH treatment alone, combined GH/IGF-I treatment resulted in a lesser degree of mesangial expansion despite an enhanced glomerular size. While additional studies are needed to examine the long-term effects of these findings, our results suggest a potentially beneficial effect of combined GH/IGF-I therapy during uremia.