ENDOCRINE MODULATION OF PHYSIOLOGICAL-RESPONSES TO CATABOLIC DISEASE

Disease or endotoxemia alters the plasma concentrations of anabolic ho rmones, particularly growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth-facto r I (IGF-I). In general, these hormones are inhibited during the catab olic disease state. A hypothesis has evolved that anabolic hormones mi ght be useful in patients' recovery under these and other catabolic ci rcumstances. The treatment of cattle with GH has provided significant improvement in the physiological response of the animals to the subseq uent injection of bacterial lypopolysaccharide (LPS), perhaps via inhi bition of tumor necrisis factor (TNF) release. However, this improved response to disease was not observed with animals treated with GH and infected with one of two parasitic organisms, Sarcocystis cruzi or Eim eria bovis. Recent attempts with other anabolic hormones, estradiol an d progesterone, have proven remarkably effective in improving the adap tive physiological responses of calves to either E. bovis infection or to the injection of LPS. All animals displayed signs of infection, bu t the intensity and duration of symptoms were reduced. Although a mech anism is not yet known, there were no effects on TNF; cortisol; the pe rcentages of lymphocytes expressing CD2, 4, or 8 antigens; or the prod uction of antibodies. (C) Elsevier Science Inc. 1998