Growth Hormone-Dependent Effects of Human Serum on thein VitroGrowth Characteristics of Human Skin Fibroblasts

Abstract

Skin fibroblasts derived from either a normal child or from untreated hypopituitary children become progressively more rounded and finally detach and float free when cultured in medium containing serum from growth hormone (GH)-deficient patients. In contrast, human fibroblasts cultured in medium supplemented with serum obtained from hypopituitary children during successful treatment withgrowth hormone exhibit normal monolayer confluency. These observations are compatible with the explanation that serum from GH-deficient children lacks a GH-dependent component which is essential for the normal in vitro growth of human skin fibroblasts.