Effects of growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1 ) on hepatic IGF-1-mRNA, plasma IGF-1 and nitrogen excretion in gastrectomized rats with liver cirrhosis

The growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) axis is impaired in livercirrhosis. We determined the effects of GH and IGF-1 treatments in gastrectomized rats with thioacetamide-induced cirrhosis. GH did not increase hepatic IGF-1-mRNA, plasma IGF-1 or the tissue, i.e. gastrocnemius muscle IGF-1 level. IGF-1 administration increased plasma IGF-1 without increasing hepatic IGF-1-mRNA. GH and IGF-1 independently decreased postoperative urinary nitrogen excretion. We conclude that both GH and IGF-1 improve postoperative nitrogen metabolism. Furthermore, GH may exert its anabolic effects directly and/or via actions mediated by IGF-1 production, other than in the liver and in the skeletal muscle, in the setting of cirrhosis.