Abstract
The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether treatment with growth hormone or its main mediator insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) alters the response to infusion of E coli in injured pigs. The pigs underwent surgery (2.5 h) consisting of a midline thoraco-laparotomy with dissection to place flow probes around the ascending aorta, portal vein, common hepatic artery and right renal and femoral arteries, and insertion of catheters into the pulmonary artery, jugular veins, carotid arteries and portal, hepatic right renal and right femoral arteries. Following surgery, one control group received an infusion of E coli for a total of 130 minutes and one control group received saline instead of the E coli infusion as a nonseptic control. One study group received GH as a bolus injection (16U) prior to the E coli infusion, and one group received IGF-I as a constat infusion (1.3 mg/h). Hemodynamic measurements were performed, as well as blood chemistry measurements; blood gases, plasma concentrations of glucose, lactate, free fatty acids and alanine. GH treatment increased plasma concentration of free fatty acids and fat oxidation rates. IGF-I treatment lowered blood glucose and reduced carbohydrate oxidation. Lactate concentrations were higher and arterial pH was lower in the septic animals than in nonseptic controls. In GH treated septic animals, Pco 2 was higher and Po2 lower in aorta and portal vein while renal artery flow was reduced. Cardiac output was higher, and accompanied by higher heart rate and lower stroke volume in GH treated animals and septic controls as compared to IGF-I treated animals. Noradrenaline concentrations were higher in the GH treated group than in the IGF-I treated group, while dopamine concentrations were higher in the IGF-I treated group, while dopamine concentrations were higher in the IGF-I treated animals.
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