Endocrine Abstracts

Chronically elevated GH levels in GH-transgenic mice derive in accelerated growth and increased body weight. These animals present increased circulating IGF-I and hepatic IGF-I mRNA levels, as well as liver enlargement due to hypertrophy and hyperplasia, which frequently progress to hepatomas as the animals age.We have previously described that the GH-induced JAK2/STAT5 signalling pathway is desensitized in the liver of transgenic mice overexpressing GH....

GH and IGF1 play an important role in cardiac development and function. Conditions leading to abnormal GH levels are associated with cardiovascular disease. Although acromegaly is associated with hypertension, insulin resistance, diabetes type 2 and dislipemia, several studies ascribe the heart alterations displayed by these patients to the direct action of chronically elevated GH and IGF1 levels.Given that insulin acts as a growth factor to the heart an...