EFFECTS OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH-FACTOR-I AND AZT IN CATS EXPERIMENTALLY INFECTED WITH FIV

This study was undertaken to determine the biological activity and/or toxicity of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-1 (rHulGF-1) in cats, and to examine the effects of rHulGF-1, with and without zido vudine (azidothymidine, AZT) in cats experimentally infected with feli ne immunodeficiency virus (FIV). A single dose of rHulGF-1, administer ed intravenously, suppressed blood glucose levels to less than 40 mg/d l in noninfected cats. When administered to such cats for 30 days, rHu lGF-1 produced no significant changes in bodyweight, blood cell count, or plasma chemistry values. There were, however, significant increase s in thymic (p = 0.0216) and splenic (p = 0.0459) weights in treated c ats. Subcutaneous administration of rHulGF-1 to FIV-infected cats did not produce an increase in circulating levels of FIV DNA or anti-FIV a ntibody, but did result in a significant (p = 0.04) primary antibody r esponse to a T-cell-dependent immunogen. The administration of AZT, wi th or without rHulGF-1, produced a dose-related, reversible anemia and neutropenia.