J Korean Pediatr Soc.  1999 Jul;42(7):991-1002.

Effects of Growth Hormone Treatment on Alterations of Growth and Bone Metabolism in Rats Induced by Dexamethasone Administration

• Chung WY
• Lee JN
• Yoon HK

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the alterations of growth and bone metabolism in SDR induced by dexa administration and to evaluate the effects of GH treatment in dexamethasone(dexa) induced growth and bone metabolism in SDR.
METHODS
Forty-five female Sprague-Dawley rats(weight 150-170gm) were divided in 3 groups: Group 1(n=15) received normal saline as control, Group 2(n=15) received dexa(1mg/kg/day), Group 3(n=15) received dexa and rhGH(LG Chem, 1IU/kg/day) simultaneously. Group 2 and 3 were injected rhGH daily, 6 days per week. Each group was divided in three subgroups(n=5) and sacrificed at 4, 6, 8 weeks, respectively.
RESULTS
In Group 2, the length of tibia and femur and tibia epiphyseal plate thickness decreased significantly at 4, 6, 8 weeks compared to Group 1, respectively. In Group 2, serum IGF-I and PICP level also decreased at 6, 8 weeks and serum ICTP level increased at 4, 6 weeks compared to Group 1 significantly. In Group 3, the length of tibia and femur increased at 4, 6, 8 weeks compared to Group 2 but there was no statistical significance. In Group 3, tibia epiphyseal plate thickness increased significantly at 6, 8 weeks compared to Group 1. In Group 3, serum IGF-I and PICP level increased significantly at 4, 6, 8 weeks respectively compared to Group 2. But serum ICTP level showed no changes between two groups. Serum PTH level increased in Group 2 compared to Group 1, and decreased in Group 3 compared to Group 2 but no statistical significance was noted, respectively.
CONCLUSION
Our data suggest that dexa inhibits longitudinal bone growth and interferes with bone metabolism, both inhibiting bone formation and stimulating bone resorption in SDR. Simultaneous GH administration may abolish alterations of growth and bone metabolism induced by dexa in SDR.

Keyword

Dexamethasone; Growth hormone; Bone mineral content; Linear growth; Sprague-Dawley rat

MeSH Terms

Animals
Bone Density
Bone Development
Bone Resorption
Dexamethasone*
Female
Femur
Growth Hormone*
Growth Plate
Humans
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I
Metabolism*
Osteogenesis
Rats*
Rats, Sprague-Dawley
Tibia
Dexamethasone
Growth Hormone
Insulin-Like Growth Factor I