Human growth hormone increases intestinal vitamin D-dependent calcium-binding protein in hypophysectomized rats

Abstract

We examined the effects of hypophysectomy and pituitary hormone replacement on vitamin D-dependent calcium- binding protein (CaBP) in rat small intestine. The concentration of immunoreactive CaBP per mg intestinal protein was decreased by at least 56% in hypophysectomized rats compared to that in intact pair-fed controls. Alkaline phosphatase and total protein also were reduced by hypophysectomy, but pairfeeding produced comparable decreases. Daily injections of 2, 10, or 50 μg human GH (hGH) for 9 days produced a dosedependent increase in CaBP. At the highest hGH dose (50 μg), the content of CaBP was increased 2-to 4-fold to intact levels. By comparison, the increases in total protein and alkaline phosphatase were small (25% to 40% and 80% to 90%, respectively). The induction of CaBP preceded the other protein responses; half-maximal increases in CaBP occurred after 2 days of hGH (50 μg/day) treatment before statistically significant changes in total protein or alkaline phosphatase activity. hGH was the most potent pituitary hormone tested; ovine TSH (25 mU/day) had no effect on CaBP, and ovine PRL (10 or 50 μg/day) increased CaBP by only 25-27% (P = 0.014). These studies indicate that the vitamin D-dependent intestinal CaBP in hypophysectomized rats is regulated by GH and provide further evidence that the pituitary may be involved in regulating vitamin D-dependent intestinal adaptations. (Endocrinology 113: 1387, 1983). © 1983 by The Endocrine Society.