Metabolic Effects of Growth Hormone in Fasting, Phlorhizinized and Adrenalectomized Rats

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Abstract
A study was reported on the effects of growth hormone on the urinary excretion of glucose, N and acetone bodies in normal and adrenalectomized fasting and phlorhizinized rats. It was found that growth hormone reduces the urinary N output in the fasting phlorhizinized normal animal, but does not have this effect in either the phlorhizinized adrenalectomized or the unphlorhizinized adrenalectomized animal. Furthermore, a ketogenic effect of growth hormone is demonstrated in the normal fasting rat but not in the adrenalectomized, the phlorhizinized normal or phlorhizinized adrenalectomized rat. The hypothesis is advanced that the ketogenic action of growth hormone is independent of its N retaining action and apparently requires for its appearance the presence of the adrenal cortex. A marked reduction of glycosuria was observed in the phlorhizinized fasting rat but not in any other prepn. This together with the reports that alloxanized or ACTH treated rats showed increased glycosuria after growth hormone led to the hypothesis that the so-called diabetogenic action of growth hormone is indicative of a relative preponderance of its inhibitory action on peripheral glucose uptake over its action in reducing gluconeogenesis from protein in the liver.