Insulin-like growth factor-I in rats with portacaval shunting

Background and Purpose: The aim of our study was to place changes observed in circulating and liver concentrations of IGF-I in rats with chronic liver disease within the context of other alterations observed in this condition. Materials and Methods: An end-to-side portacaval shunt (PCS) was studied in Wistar rats, eight weeks after surgery. Therefore, liver concentrations of IGF-I, pancreatic content of insulin, glucagon and somatostatin and serum/plasma concentrations of IGF-I, growth hormone, insulin, glucagon and somatostatin were determined by radioimmunoassay. Liver function tests and liver histology were performed, including immuno-histochemistry. Results: The results showed a decrease in peripheral serum (p<0.01) and liver concentrations of IGF-I (p<0.05), including IGF-I immunore-activity in hepatocytes, in PCS rats compared with control and sham operated rats, while basal concentrations of GH were slightly increased (p<0.05). Moreover, hypoglycemia, normoinsulinemia, normosomatostatinemia and hyperglucagonemia were present in PCS rats. The pancreatic content of glucagon as well as the levels of blood ammonia and transaminase (GOT, GPT) showed significant increases (p<0.01). Reduction and fragmentation of rough endoplasmic reticulum were the most specific ultrastructural changes. Conclusions: These data suggest that a GH/IGF-I axis imbalance was present in rats following portacaval shunt. This was probably a consequence of diminished hepatocellular function.