Regulation of insulin-like growth factor-I and growth hormone receptor gene expression by diabetes and nutritional state in rat tissues.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) mRNA and GH receptor mRNA levels were analysed in different tissues from rats made diabetic with streptozotocin, fasted rats and rats fed with a protein-reduced diet. Diabetes decreased IGF-I mRNA levels in liver, heart, diaphragm, kidney and aorta, but not in brain. GH receptor mRNA levels were decreased in heart and diaphragm, but not in liver and kidney. Fasting decreased IGF-I mRNA in all tissues studied except brain, and decreased GH receptor mRNA in liver, heart and diaphragm, but not in kidney. A protein-reduced diet decreased hepatic IGF-I mRNA levels but did not significantly affect other tissues, while GH receptor mRNA levels were reduced in liver and diaphragm. In conclusion, both diabetes and limited nutrition affected IGF-I and GH receptor mRNA in different tissues, but the two mRNAs were not co-ordinately regulated in all tissues studied. While reduced GH receptor gene expression may thus be responsible for decreased IGF-I gene expression in some states and tissues, additional regulatory mechanisms may be of importance.