Endocrine Abstracts

Type II diabetic nephropathy (DN) has become the single most common cause of end-stage renal disease in the Western world. In previous studies we have shown a significant involvement of the GH-IGF-I axis in a mouse model of type I DM. The purpose of this study was to examine the endocrine and renal changes in GH-IGF-I axis key molecules in db/db mice, a model of type II DM lacking a functional leptin receptor. Obese (D) and lean (heterozygote) (C) animals were followed, beginn...

High levels of GH and low levels of IGF-I are found in the serum of type 1 DM. GH binds to its receptor (GHR) and leads to a series of signal transduction reactions, involving phosphorylation of intracellular proteins, including IGF-I and angiotensin II receptor type I (AT1R). It has been previously shown that in type I DM mice there is a decrease in liver GHR levels and circulating IGF-? in spite of increased circulating GH, suggesting a state of GH resistance, although its e...