GROWTH-HORMONE AND AGING CHANGE RAT-LIVER FATTY-ACID-BINDING PROTEIN-LEVELS

Objective: Rat liver fatty acid binding protein (FABP) is believed rel evant to understanding of homeostasis in lipid metabolism and lipid re lated diseases. Relatively little is known about endocrine control of FABP production. Thus, we examined endocrine effects on its hepatic co ntent. Methods/Results: Hypophysectomy of 300-325 g males caused stati stically significant drops of FABP levels averaging 62.2% and 67.0%, e xpressed g/liver or 100 g/body weight, 30-52 days after surgery. Corti sol administration (3.8 mg/kg, daily, 32-36 days) did not significantl y alter this effect of hypophysectomy. Recombinant human growth hormon e (GH, 2.0 U/kg, b.i.d, 17-20 days) greatly decreased the effect of hy pophysectomy on FABP but had no effect in intact males. Supporting the control of FABP content by GH, FABP levels decreased significantly in 12-13 and 16-22 month old males, but not in growing, 4-6 or 10-11 mon th old males. FABP levels in 12-13.5 month old females also dropped si gnificantly compared to 4-6 month old females. Discussion: The importa nce of the data to metabolism, growth, and aging is discussed.