EFFECTS OF GROWTH HORMONE IN DOGS1

Abstract

IT WAS found by Campbell, Lei and Davidson (1951) that the administration of purified bovine growth hormone to dogs caused an increase of the blood erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), which was much greater than could be accounted for by the coincident reduction in the volume percent of packed red blood corpuscles. Evidence was obtained that the fibrinogen content of the blood plasma was also increased by the growth hormone. These effects coincided with, and followed fairly closely, the considerable hyperglycaemia and glycosuria produced by the injections. These observations have been confirmed, and changes produced in the blood and tissues of dogs by doses of growth hormone adequate to produce idiohypophyseal diabetes have been studied. The principal findings are, in brief, that in the dogs given growth hormone, the quantity of protein in the blood plasma is increased, and the plasma protein pattern is altered. The amount of fibrinogen is increased due to increased concentration and increase in plasma volume.