ABSTRACT
Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is associated as a risk factor in increased mortality from cardiovascular diseases. Abnormal lipid profile and increased levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI) and fibrinogen have been noted in GHD patients. Present study was carried out to investigate the effect of growth hormone (GH) on plasminogen activator (PA) activity in heart, levels of PA, PAI, glucose and fibrinogen in plasma and serum lipid profile. Rats were injected 125 mU GH kg-1 body weight subcutaneously daily for one week. PA activity was significantly higher in the heart of GH treated rats as compared to controls. GH treatment decreased plasma glucose and fibrinogen levels significantly. No significant differences were seen in PA, PAI in plasma, triglycerides and total cholesterol in serum of the two groups of rats. A significant increase in high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) occurred in GH treated group resulting into a decrease in LDL/HDL ratio. The results indicate that GH may be beneficial in cardiovascular diseases as it decreases the levels of plasma fibrinogen and increases the level of HDL in blood and also increases the level of PA in heart.
Subject(s)
Animals , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Fibrinogen/metabolism , Fibrinolysis/drug effects , Growth Hormone/pharmacology , Heart/drug effects , Lipids/blood , Male , Myocardium/metabolism , Plasminogen Activators/metabolism , Plasminogen Inactivators/metabolism , Rats , Rats, WistarABSTRACT
Plasminogen activation is a widespread cellular mechanism for localized extracellular proteolysis that is postulated to participate in many diverse physiological and pathological phenomena. The present review in intended as an introduction to the subject, and is by no means comprehensive, except for the section on breast cancer. Seral extensive reviews are available that should be consulted by intersted readers (1-6).