Original Article
Copyright ©2009 The WJG Press and Baishideng. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2009; 15(43): 5418-5424
Published online Nov 21, 2009. doi: 10.3748/wjg.15.5418
Effect of growth hormone on small intestinal homeostasis relation to cellular mediators IGF-I and IGFBP-3
Betul Ersoy, Kemal Ozbilgin, Erhun Kasirga, Sevinc Inan, Senol Coskun, Ibrahim Tuglu
Betul Ersoy, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, Manisa 45010, Turkey
Kemal Ozbilgin, Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, Manisa 45010, Turkey
Erhun Kasirga, Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, Manisa 45010, Turkey
Sevinc Inan, Ibrahim Tuglu, Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, Manisa 45010, Turkey
Senol Coskun, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, Manisa 45010, Turkey
Author contributions: Ersoy B and Ozbilgin K contributed equally to this work; Ersoy B, Ozbilgin K, Kasirga E, Coskun S designed the research; Ersoy B, Ozbilgin K, Kasirga E, Tuglu I performed the research; Inan S and Tuglu I contributed new reagents/analytic tools; Ersoy B, Ozbilgin K and Tuglu I analyzed the data; Ersoy B and Tuglu I wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Betul Ersoy, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, 108/35 sokak, No. 51/36 Esendere-izmir, Manisa 45010, Turkey. betul.ersoy@bayar.edu.tr
Telephone: +90-236-2323133 Fax: +90-236-2370213
Received: July 21, 2009
Revised: September 16, 2009
Accepted: September 23, 2009
Published online: November 21, 2009
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the effects of growth hormone (GH) on the histology of small intestines which might be related to the role of insulin like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) and its receptors.

METHODS: Twelve week-old adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into two groups. The study group (n = 10), received recombinant human growth hormone (rGH) at a dose of 2 mg/kg per day subcutaneously for 14 d and the control group (n = 10) received physiologic serum. Paraffin sections of jejunum were stained with periodic acid shift (PAS) and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) for light microscopy. They were also examined for IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and IGF-receptor immunoreactivities. Staining intensity was graded semi-quantitatively using the HSCORE.

RESULTS: Goblet cells and the cells in crypt epithelia were significantly increased in the study group compared to that of the control group. We have demonstrated an increase of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 immunoreactivities in surface epithelium of the small intestine by GH application. IGF-I receptor immunoreactivities of crypt, villous columnar cells, enteroendocrine cells and muscularis mucosae were also more strongly positive in the study group compared to those of in the control group.

CONCLUSION: These findings confirm the important trophic and protective role of GH in the homeostasis of the small intestine. The trophic effect is mediated by an increase in IGF-I synthesis in the small intestine, but the protective effect is not related to IGF-I.

Keywords: Growth hormone; Small intestine; Like growth factor-1; Insulin like growth factor binding protein 3