Abstract
GH deprivation following passive immunization (PI) against rGRF markedly affects somatic growth in rats. Since it has been postulated that GH and probably IGF-I have a permissive role on sexual maturation, the effect of GH deprivation on the course of sexual maturation was tested. Male rats were treated with a potent anti-rGRF serum between 15 and 40 days of life (d). Body weight (BW) of treated rats averaged 76.3% of that of control rats at 40 d and was maximally affected at 50 d (56.9%) after which age, treated rats started to grow normally. At 40 and 50 d, plasma GH was undetectable and plasma IGF-I levels averaged 30% of those of control rats. At 70 d, GH & IGF-I secretions were normal. At 40 d, testes and seminal vesicles of treated rats were small-for-age in agreement with significantly decreased plasma levels of testosterone and FSH. At 50 d, despite maximum delay of somatic growth, progress of sexual maturation was found to be almost normal. At 40 and 50 d, pituitary weight and contents of GH, FSH, and LH were severely decreased but became normal at 70 d. In conclusion, GH deprivation markedly affected somatic growth and induced a transient delay of sexual maturation secondary to a partial inhibition of synthesis and release of LH & FSH. This inhibition of LH & FSH secretion may result from central inhibition of GHRH secretion or from impaired development of the pituitary gland.
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Arsenijevic, Y., Aubert, M., Eshkol, A. et al. ALTERED SEXUAL MATURATION IN MALE RATS PASSIVELY IMMUNIZED AGAINST rGRF FROM 15 TO 40 DAYS OF LIFE. Pediatr Res 23, 121 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198801000-00117
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198801000-00117