Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 18, 2026

Important Endpoints and Proliferative Markers to Assess Small Intestinal Injury and Adaptation using a Mouse Model of Chemotherapy-Induced Mucositis
Published on: May 12, 2019
Effect of growth hormone on small intestinal homeostasis relation to cellular mediators IGF-I and IGFBP-3
Betul Ersoy1, Kemal Ozbilgin, Erhun Kasirga
1Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, Faculty of Medicine, Celal Bayar University, Manisa 45010, Turkey. betul.ersoy@bayar.edu.tr
Aim:
To evaluate the effects of growth hormone (GH) on the histology of small intestines which might be related to the role of insulin like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) and its receptors.
Methods:
Twelve week-old adult male Wistar albino rats were divided into two groups. The study group (n = 10), received recombinant human growth hormone (rGH) at a dose of 2 mg/kg per day subcutaneously for 14 d and the control group (n = 10) received physiologic serum. Paraffin sections of jejunum were stained with periodic acid shift (PAS) and hematoxylin and eosin (HE) for light microscopy. They were also examined for IGF-I, IGFBP-3 and IGF-receptor immunoreactivities. Staining intensity was graded semi-quantitatively using the HSCORE.
Results:
Goblet cells and the cells in crypt epithelia were significantly increased in the study group compared to that of the control group. We have demonstrated an increase of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 immunoreactivities in surface epithelium of the small intestine by GH application. IGF-I receptor immunoreactivities of crypt, villous columnar cells, enteroendocrine cells and muscularis mucosae were also more strongly positive in the study group compared to those of in the control group.
Conclusion:
These findings confirm the important trophic and protective role of GH in the homeostasis of the small intestine. The trophic effect is mediated by an increase in IGF-I synthesis in the small intestine, but the protective effect is not related to IGF-I.
Related Concept Videos
Hormones and Bone Tissue
Hormones That Influence Osteoblasts and/or Maintain the Matrix
Several hormones are necessary for controlling bone growth and maintaining the bone matrix. The pituitary gland secretes growth hormone (GH), which, as its name implies, controls bone growth. This happens in several ways: first, it triggers chondrocyte...
Hormones Regulating Blood Glucose
In addition to accelerating glucose uptake and utilization, insulin has...
Regulation of the Digestive System
The effectors in this regulation system are glands and smooth muscles. Activation of these...
Hormonal Regulation
Glucose Homeostasis: Pancreatic Islets and Insulin Secretion
Insulin and C-peptide are co-secreted in...
Renewal of Intestinal Stem Cells
