THE EFFECT OF GROWTH HORMONE ON HEPATIC CATALASE, AND ON CELL VOLUME AND HEMOGLOBIN CONTENT OF BLOOD IN RATS

Abstract

Relationships of the growth hormone to metabolic processes are being actively studied. Its glycostatic and ketogenic effects (Wilhelmi, Fishman, and Russell, 1948; Bennett et at., 1948), probable implication in glucose uptake by diaphragm (Park and Krahl, 1949) and anti-insulin action in hypophysectomized dogs (De Bodo et al., 1950) have recently received attention. Since the metabolism of protein is interrelated with that of carbohydrate and fat, clues as to the mechanism by which the growth hormone influences protein synthesis may well develop from studies of the above type, which are concerned with other aspects of metabolism. Consequently, we have felt that our inquiry into effects of growth hormone on tissue enzymes, though begun with a view of elucidating the mechanism by which well-known effects on body weight, skeletal development, and nitrogen storage are produced, might well include assays of enzymes having no obvious relationship to these criteria of growth.