Diabetogenic effect of growth hormone in the intact force-fed adrenocorticotrophin treated rat.

Abstract

THE diabetogenic effect of both crude anterior pituitary extract and purified growth hormone in the dog and cat is now well established. Originally demonstrated with crude anterior pituitary extract, (Johns et. al, 1927, Evans, et al. 1932, Houssay, 1936, Young 1937 and Lukens and Dohan 1942) both temporary and permanent diabetes have now also been induced in dogs and cats with more highly purified preparations of growth hormone (Cotes, Reid and Young, 1949; Houssay and Anderson 1949; Campbell et al., 1950a, 1950b). As has been emphasized by Young (1944), diabetes is fairly readily precipitated in adult animals wereas in immature ones enhanced growth is the usual response to the same pituitary preparations. In the cat, the diabetogenic effects of pituitary extracts are not apparent following adrenalectomy, but may be restored if the animals are maintained on a constant dose of adrenal extract which itself does not induce glycosuria (Long and Lukens 1936).