In vivo evaluation of a novel, orally bioavailable, small molecule growth hormone receptor antagonist

IGF-I is regarded as the most sensitive marker of growth hormone (GH) secretion in both GH deficient individuals and in individuals with excessive GH production. Studies on the effect of inhibitors of GH action in normal experimental animals are difficult to evaluate due to the complex relationship and feed back mechanisms of the GH/IGF-I system and the hypothalamo-pituitary axis. To circumvent the GH/IGF-I feedback mechanisms, we have used hypophysectomized (HX) rats treated with GH to assess the potential of a new low molecular weight compound, BVT-A ((N-[5-(aminosulfonyl)-2-methylphenyl]-5-bromo-2-furamide), to act as a GH receptor antagonist in vivo. GH treatment of HX rats induced serum IGF-I, body weight and hepatic mRNA levels of IGF-I, IGFBP-3, ALS and the IGF-I and GH receptors. Co-treatment with BVT-A suppressed all the GH-induced effects. We conclude that the GH substituted HX rat is a useful model for studies on GH receptor antagonists, and for the first time, a small molecule GH receptor antagonist with in vivo activity has been revealed. This opens up for development of new drugs for diseases in which lowering of GH receptor activity would be beneficial.