Subcutaneous adipose tissue and lipids in blood in growth hormone deficiency before and after treatment with human growth hormone.

Abstract

Extract: This study was undertaken to evaluate adipose cell size and number and subcutaneous fat and blood lipids composition in hypopituitary patients before and daring treatment with human growth hormone (HGH). The investigations were performed in 14 prepubertal children 6–17 11/12 years of age, with idiopathic hypopituitarism. Human growth hormone was administered successfully to 6 of these 14 patients for at least 1 year. Before HGH treatment there was a significant reduction of adipose tissue cell number according to chronologic age and to skeletal age. The average adipose cell size was significantly larger than normal. A significant correlation between subcutaneous adipose cell mean weight and tricipital and subscapular skin fold thickness, similar to that observed in normal children, was observed. The distribution of fatty acids in the subcutaneous fat and in the blood lipid composition was normal. During the 1st and 2nd year of HGH treatment, the total number of adipose cells increased rapidly. There was also a highly significant reduction of the average adipose cell size after the 1st year. A significant reduction of the fatty acids unsaturated fraction was observed after the 1st year without further changes after the 2nd year of treatment. The blood lipid composition did not change significantly after either 1 or 2 years of HGH treatment. Speculation: The striking increase in total number of adipose cells observed during HGH administration in hypopituitary patients tends to prove that the adipose tissue organogenesis is not limited to a finite period ending after the 1st year of life. The modifications in composition of adipose tissue triglycerides induced by long term treatment with HGH would mean that the several components of the fatty acid pool are differentially liberated.