The growth-promoting effects of
IGF-I were examined in rats following partial
nephrectomy and compared with the effects of the des(1-3) variant of
IGF-I. Four groups of rats were subjected to 5/6
nephrectomy (n = 8 per group) and treated for 7 days with
IGF-I (0.9 or 2.2 mg/kg BW/day),
des(1-3)IGF-I (0.9 mg/kg/BW/day), or vehicle (0.1 M
acetic acid) administered subcutaneously by osmotic pump. A group of vehicle-treated,
sham-operated control rats (n = 7) was included. Food utilization was significantly improved in all three
peptide-treated groups, by 13-16% compared with the vehicle-treated nephrectomized group. Also,
nitrogen balance was enhanced, particularly in the
des(1-3)IGF-I group, in which
nitrogen excretion was reduced by 24%, with the low- and high-dose
IGF-I groups showing 16 and 18% reductions, respectively. Serum
urea levels were significantly decreased, by 25%, in the
des(1-3)IGF-I group, with 20 and 17% reductions being observed in the low- and high-dose
IGF-I groups.
Muscle protein degradation was found to be significantly attenuated with
des(1-3)IGF-I treatment but was not significantly affected in the two
IGF-I-treated groups. While carcass composition was not altered with IGF
peptide treatment, absolute mass of
protein in the carcass was improved in rats treated with the high dose of
IGF-I. These results show that
IGF-I or, more particularly,
des(1-3)IGF-I may be efficacious in overcoming impaired growth in
renal failure.