Effect of recombinant growth hormone [rh-GH] on glycerol induced acute renal failure [ARF] in rats

ABSTRACT

Experimental studies showed that acute uremia is characterized by reduced GH and IGF-l messenger RNA expression and is manifested as resistance to human rh-GH. However the administration of high doses of several anabolic agents including rh-GH have been proposed as a potential therapy for several catabolic conditions including acute renal failure [ARF]. Therefore this study was conducted to reveal the renoprotective and ameliorating effects of GH on glycerol-induced ARF in rats, by exploring its effects on generating IGF-l, decreasing ROS, improving kidney function and its effect on the generation of the vasodilator nitric oxide [NO]. The present study included four groups of albino rats, the first group [control group] was injected with saline, the second group [AFR group], in which 50% of glycerol was injected intramuscularly [im]. The third group was injected with the vehicle of growth hormone and the fourth group was injected with rh-GH [2 mg/day] for 5 days subcutaneously [sc] 48 hr after induction of ARF. The results showed 3.79 and 4.09 folds increase in blood urea and serum creatinine, respectively for the ARF group compared to the control group. These values in group IV deceased by 79.5 and 49% after rh-GH hormone treatment compared to their controls [group III]. Also the increased mean value of plasma malondialdehyde [MDA] and deceased mean value of plasma nitric oxide [NO] in the ARF group as compared to controls were markedly corrected after rh-GH treatment. The greatly increased level of IGF-l after rh-GH injection suggests that it may be the actual player behind these ameliorating effects of rh-GH on glycerol-induced ARF in rats. The therapeutic uses of rh-GH in ameliorating the effects of ARF that has already happened [as early as possible] and its protective effects in expected cases is therefore recommended