REGULATION OF THE GENE-EXPRESSION OF GLUCOSE-TRANSPORTER IN LIVER ANDKIDNEY OF LACTATING COWS BY BOVINE GROWTH-HORMONE AND BOVINE GROWTH HORMONE-RELEASING FACTOR

Our objective was to study the effects of recombinant bovine growth ho rmone and bovine growth hormone-releasing factor on gene expression of glucose transporters in the liver and kidney of lactating cows. Primi parous cows received 29 mg/d of bovine growth hormone or 12 mg/d of bo vine growth hormone-releasing factor by continuous intravenous infusio n or no treatment (control) from 118 to 181 d postpartum. Growth hormo ne or growth hormone-releasing factor did not influence the mRNA abund ance of the liver-type glucose transporter in the liver or kidney. Sim ilarly, neither growth hormone-releasing factor nor growth hormone alt ered the mRNA abundance of the erythrocyte-type or the intestinal-type glucose transporter in the kidney, but large individual differences w ere observed in the mRNA abundance of the intestinal-type glucose tran sporter in liver.