PRODUCTION OF DIABETES AND INCREASED ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE BY PURIFIED GROWTH HORMONE

Abstract

Following recovery from a temporary diabetes which had been produced by the injn. of a partially purified anterior pituitary extract, the admn. of growth hormone to fed dogs produced definite sustained hyperglycemia and glycosuria characteristic of idiohypo-physeal diabetes. After 12 days of injn. the intensity of the responses diminished in 3 dogs, but prolonged admn. of growth hormone overcame this resistance in 1 dog and produced permanent (metahypophyseal) diabetes after 36 days. Growth hormone increased the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) to very high levels. This effect corresponded with the intensity of the idiohypophyseal diabetes. The volume % of erythrocytes was, in general, reduced by growth hormone. This can account for only part of the total effect on the ESR. There are indications that the total protein and fibrin of the blood plasma were increased by the hormone. The values of ESR in idiohypophyseal diabetes exceeded those found in metahypophyseal, pancreatic or alloxan diabetes.