STIMULATION OF THE RENIN-ANGIOTENSIN SYSTEM BY GROWTH-HORMONE IN LEWIS DWARF RATS

A genetically growth hormone (GH)-deficient strain of Lewis rats was used to test the hypothesis that the actions of GH on electrolyte and fluid homeostasis are mediated by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS). Dwarf rats injected with recombinant bGH (2 mg . kg-1 . day-1) for 7 days (group GH1+) and 28 days (group GH4+), respectively, were compared with saline-injected dwarf (group GH-) and normal (group N) Lewis rats. GH decreased Na+ excretion and increased renal glomerular filtration rate in dwarf rats. The dietary intake and plasma concentrations of Na+ and K+ remained unchanged. GH increased plasma insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-1) concentrations in dwarf rats (GH- = 109 +/- 9, GH1+ = 184 +/- 5, GH4+ = 189 +/- 28, N = 477 +/- 29 ng/ml plasma). Plasma angiotensinogen increased towards the levels found in normal Lewis rats (GH- = 859 +/- 38, GH1+ = 906 +/- 18, GH4+ = 1,027 +/- 19, N = 1497 +/- 80 ng angiotensin I/ml plasma); plasma renin activity increased above that of the normal Lewis (GH- = 10.2 +/- 0.6, GH1+ = 11.7 +/-0.7, GH4+ = 16.7 +/- 2.4, N = 10.6 +/- 0.8 ng angiotensin I.ml plasma-1 . h-1). Plasma aldosterone, corticosterone, and triiodothyronine concentrations were unchanged by GH treatment. Angiotensin II receptor densities in GH- rats (liver = 356 +/- 23, kidney = 228 +/- 28, adrenal = 478 +/- 58 fmol/mg protein) were upregulated by GH (GH4+ rats; liver = 573 +/- 27, kidney = 360 +/- 86, adrenal = 721 +/- 78 fmol/mg protein). We concluded that the effects of GH on electrolytes and fluid involve interactions with the RAAS cascade at the source (angiotensinogen) and the site of action (receptors) of angiotensin II.