Loss of growth hormone signaling in the mouse germline or in adulthood reduces islet mass and alters islet function with notable sex differences.

ABSTRACT: In the endocrine pancreas, growth hormone (GH) is known to promote pancreatic islet growth and insulin secretion. In this study, we show that GH receptor (GHR) loss in the germline and in adulthood impacts islet mass in general but more profoundly in male mice. GHR knockout (GHRKO) mice have enhanced insulin sensitivity and low circulating insulin. We show that the total cross-sectional area of isolated islets (estimated islet mass) was reduced by 72% in male but by only 29% in female GHRKO mice compared with wild-type controls. Also, islets from GHRKO mice secreted ∼50% less glucose-stimulated insulin compared with size-matched islets from wild-type mice. We next used mice with a floxed Ghr gene to knock down the GHR in adult mice at 6 mo of age (6mGHRKO) and examined the impact on

SUBMITTER: Duran-Ortiz S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8285598 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature