Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) in mice reduces weight loss during starvation.

Plasma concentrations of IGF-1 decrease markedly during starvation secondary to a reduction in somatotropic receptors in the liver. We investigated whether IGF-1 administration during starvation in mice inhibits the catabolic state normally observed. Plasma concentrations of IGF-1 in starved mice receiving IGF-1 therapy were similar to values from non-starved mice, whereas bGH treatment failed to increase plasma IGF-1 levels. The degree of weight loss during 36 hours of starvation was reduced (p less than 0.01) by frequent treatment with subcutaneous IGF-1 but not by bGH therapy. The effect was restricted to the period 28 to 36 hours after commencement of the fast. These results suggest that a fall in circulating IGF-1 may play a role in the metabolic adaptation during malnutrition.