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Enhancement of Insulin Action by Pituitary Growth Hormone

Nature volume 174, pages 1053–1054 (1954)Cite this article

Abstract

THE injection of purified preparations of pituitary growth hormone into normal1, adrenalectomized1 and eviscerated-hypophysectomized2 rats results in a fall of blood sugar-level. The in vitro addition of pituitary growth hormone can, under certain conditions, increase the glucose uptake of the isolated diaphragm from normal3 and hypophysectomized2 rats, but cannot increase the glucose uptake of the isolated diaphragm from alloxan-diabetic rats3. This insulin-like action of growth hormone2,3 may result from a direct action of the hormone, or from an enhancement by growth hormone of the usual action of insulin, or from an activation by growth hormone of insulin trapped in the diaphragm in an inactive form (Ottaway3). Dependence of the insulin-like action of growth hormone on the presence of insulin is strongly suggested by the failure of growth hormone to lower the blood sugar-level of alloxan-diabetic rats1 or to increase in vitro the glucose uptake of the diaphragm from alloxan-diabetic rats unless the diabetic rat has received an injection of insulin before removal of the diaphragm3.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Addenbrooke's Hospital, University of Cambridge,

    P. J. RANDLE

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  1. P. J. RANDLE
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RANDLE, P. Enhancement of Insulin Action by Pituitary Growth Hormone. Nature 174, 1053–1054 (1954). https://doi.org/10.1038/1741053a0

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