Somatotropic and Sodium-Retaining Effects of Human Growth Hormone and Placental Lactogen in Lower Vertebrates

Abstract

Human growth hormone resembled ovine prolactin in its ability to promote growth of bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana) tadpoles. Both hormones stimulated a dose-related increase in tail length, tail height and body weight, but prolactin tended to be more potent. Human growth hormone was about half as active as prolactin in causing sodium retention in the teleost Tilapia mossambica. On the other hand, human placental lactogen failed to induce either growth responses in tadpoles or sodium retention in Tilapia. (Endocrinology93: 960, 1973)