Effect of Starvation on Pituitary and Plasma Growth Hormone in Rats 1

Abstract

Summary

Growth hormone was measured by radioimmunoassay in anterior pituitaries and plasma obtained from adult male and female rats that had been fed or starved for 48, 114, and 163 hr. Starvation for 163 hr resulted in lower levels of growth hormone in plasma and pituitary of both sexes. Pituitary content and concentration of growth hormone were both increased with 48 and 114 hr of starvation and then were decreased at 163 hr in comparison with the animals fed ad libitum. The males consistently had smaller anterior pituitaries, higher concentrations of growth hormone in the piutitary, and lower levels of the hormone in plasma in comparison with females.