Na. Sims et al., Bone homeostasis in growth hormone receptor-null mice is restored by IGF-Ibut independent of Stat5, J CLIN INV, 106(9), 2000, pp. 1095-1103
Growth hormone (GH) regulates both bone growth and remodeling, but it is un
clear whether these actions are mediated directly by the GH receptor (GHR)
and/or IGF-I signaling. The actions of GH are transduced by the Jak/Stat si
gnaling pathway via Stat5, which is thought to regulate IGF-I expression. T
o determine the respective roles of GHR and IGF-I in bone growth and remode
ling, we examined bones of wild-type, GHR knockout (GHR(-/-)), Stat5ab(-/-)
, and GHR(-/-) mice treated with IGF-I. Reduced bone growth in GHR(-/-) mic
e, due to a premature reduction in chondrocyte proliferation and cortical b
one growth, was detected after 2 weeks of age. Additionally, although trabe
cular bone volume was unchanged, bone turnover was significantly reduced in
GHR(-/-) mice, indicating GH involvement in the high bone-turnover level d
uring growth. IGF-I treatment almost completely rescued all effects of the
GHR on both bone growth and remodeling, supporting a direct effect of IGF-I
on both osteoblasts and chondrocytes. Whereas bone length was reduced in S
tat5ab(-/-) mice, there was no reduction in trabecular bone remodeling or g
rowth-plate width as observed in GHR-/- mice, indicating that the effects o
f GH in bone may not involve Stat5 activation.