Growth Hormone Enhances Cognitive Functions in Hypophys-Ectomized Male Rats

Grevès, Madeleine Le; Enhamre, Erika; Zhou, Qin; Fhölenhag, Karin; Berg, Marita; Meyerson, Bengt J.; Nyberg, Fred

doi:10.1166/ajnn.2011.1023

Cited by 10 publications

(4 citation statements)

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“…This is in line with a previous study demonstrating increased body weight gain in rats with intact pituitaries receiving GH, where an increase in food intake in the GH-treated rats also was observed (Azain et al 1995). Also in hypophysectomized rats, GH treatment has been demonstrated to increase weight gain compared with untreated controls (Le Grevès et al 2006Grevès et al , 2011. Increased lean body mass and reduction of fat mass have been associated with GH treatment and changes of body composition or increased food intake could be an explanation for the weight gain.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…The results from the MWM probe trial demonstrated improved spatial memory functions in the rhGH-treated rats. This is in accordance with previous studies using experimental rats with depleted endogenous GH production due to removal of the hypophysis, where the hormone was found to improve performance in the MWM as well as in the radial maze (Le Grevès et al 2006Grevès et al , 2011. GHD in both rats and humans has been associated with memory impairments, which is attenuated by GH treatment (Burman & Deijen 1998, Nieves-Martinez et al 2010, Li et al 2011a.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

“…Furthermore, the same authors state that IGF1 is not a reliable biomarker in wild-type mice and other parameters such as total body weight and liver weight may be more suitable as markers of GH administration (Bielohuby et al 2011). However, in hypophysectomized rats alterations in the IGF1 levels in plasma following GH treatment have been reported (Maiter et al 1988, Le Grevès et al 2011. Also in acromegaly elevated levels of IGF1 have been reported although the relationship between GH and IGF1 levels in plasma is not always straightforward (Neggers et al 2012).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Impairments of spatial learning and memory have also been seen in GH-deficient spontaneous dwarf rats (Li et al 2011a), and in a model with hypoxia GH was able to attenuate deficits in spatial learning (Li et al 2011b). We have recently demonstrated that GH may improve spatial performance in hypophysectomized rats using the Morris water maze (MWM; Le Grevès et al 2006) as well as the radial arm maze (Le Grevès et al 2011). Thus, it seems like GH may be able to improve learning and memory and counteract druginduced cognitive deficiencies (Nyberg 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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GH improves spatial memory and reverses certain anabolic androgenic steroid-induced effects in intact rats

Grönbladh

Johansson

Nöstl

et al. 2012

Journal of Endocrinology

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GH has previously been shown to promote cognitive functions in GH-deficient rodents. In this study we report the effects of GH on learning and memory in intact rats pretreated with the anabolic androgenic steroid nandrolone. Male Wistar rats received nandrolone decanoate (15 mg/kg) or peanut oil every third day for 3 weeks and were subsequently treated with recombinant human GH (1.0 IU/kg) or saline for 10 consecutive days. During the GH/saline treatment spatial learning and memory were tested in the Morris water maze (MWM). Also, plasma levels of IGF1 were assessed and the gene expression of the GH receptors (Ghr), Igf1 and Igf2, in hippocampus and frontal cortex was analyzed. The results demonstrated a significant positive effect of GH on memory functions and increased gene expression of Igf1 in the hippocampus was found in the animals treated with GH. In addition, GH was demonstrated to increase the body weight gain and was able to attenuate the reduced body weight seen in nandrolone-treated animals. In general, the rats treated with nandrolone alone did not exhibit any pronounced alteration in memory compared with controls in the MWM, and in many cases GH did not induce any alteration. Regarding target zone crossings, considered to be associated with spatial memory, the difference between GH-and steroid-treated animals was significant and administration of GH improved this parameter in the latter group. In conclusion, GH improves spatial memory in intact rats and can reverse certain effects induced by anabolic androgenic steroid.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%