An overview of technical considerations for Western blotting applications to physiological research.

The applications of Western/immunoblotting (WB) techniques have reached multiple layers of the scientific community and are now considered routine procedures in the field of physiology. This is none more so than in relation to skeletal muscle physiology (i.e., resolving the mechanisms underpinning adaptations to exercise). Indeed, the inclusion of WB data is now considered an essential aspect of many such physiological publications to provide mechanistic insight into regulatory processes. Despite this popularity, and due to the ubiquitous and relatively inexpensive availability of WB equipment, the quality of WB in publications and subsequent analysis and interpretation of the data can be variable, perhaps resulting in spurious conclusions. This may be due to poor laboratory technique and/or lack of comprehension of the critical steps involved in WB and what quality control procedures should be in place to ensure robust data generation. The present review aims to provide a detailed description and critique of WB procedures and technicalities, from sample collection through preparation, blotting and detection, to analysis of the data collected. We aim to provide the reader with improved expertise to critically conduct, evaluate, and troubleshoot the WB process, to produce reproducible and reliable blots.

A collagen hydrolysate/milk protein-blend stimulates muscle anabolism equivalently to an isoenergetic milk protein-blend containing a greater quantity of essential amino acids in older men.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Nutritional composition is key for skeletal muscle maintenance into older age. Yet the acute effects of collagen protein blended with other protein sources, in relation to skeletal muscle anabolism, are ill-defined. We investigated human muscle protein synthesis (MPS) responses to a 20 g blend of collagen protein hydrolysate + milk protein (CP+MP, 125 ml) oral nutritional supplement (ONS) vs. 20 g non-blended milk protein source (MP, 200 ml) ONS, in older adults. METHODS: Healthy older men (N = 8, 71±1 y, BMI: 27±1 kg·m-2) underwent a randomized trial of 20 g protein, from either a CP+MP blend (Fresubin®3.2 kcal DRINK), or a kcal-matched (higher in essential amino acids (EAA) ONS of MP alone. Vastus lateralis (VL) MPS and plasma AA were determined using stable isotope-tracer mass spectrometry; anabolic signaling was quantified via immuno-blotting in VL biopsies taken at baseline and 2/4 h after ONS feeding. Plasma insulin was measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Measures were taken at rest, after the feed (FED) and after the feed + exercise (FED-EX) conditions (unilateral leg exercise, 6 × 8, 75% 1-RM). RESULTS: MP resulted in a greater increase in plasma leucine (MP mean: 152 ± 6 µM, CP+MP mean: 113 ± 4 µM (Feed P < 0.001) and EAA (MP mean: 917 ± 25 µM, CP+MP mean: 786 ± 15 µM (Feed P < 0.01) than CP+MP. CP + MP increased plasma glycine (peak 385 ± 57 µM (P < 0.05)), proline (peak 323 ± 29 µM (P < 0.01)) and non-essential amino acids (NEAA) (peak 1621 ± 107 µM (P < 0.01)) with MP showing no increase. Plasma insulin increased in both trials (CP+MP: 58 ± 10 mU/mL (P < 0.01), MP: 42 ± 6 mU/mL (P < 0.01), with peak insulin greater with CP+MP vs. MP (P < 0.01). MPS demonstrated equivalent increases in response to CP+MP and MP under both FED (MP: 0.039 ± 0.005%/h to 0.081 ± 0.014%/h (P < 0.05), CP+MP: 0.042 ± 0.004%/h to 0.085 ± 0.007%/h (P < 0.05)) and FED-EX (MP: 0.039 ± 0.005%/h to 0.093 ± 0.013%/h (P < 0.01), CP+MP: 0.042 ± 0.004%/h to 0.105 ± 0.015%/h, (P < 0.01)) conditions. FED muscle p-mTOR fold-change from baseline increased to a greater extent with CP+MP vs. MP (P < 0.05), whilst FED-EX muscle p-eEF2 fold-change from baseline decreased to a greater extent with CP+MP vs. MP (P < 0.05); otherwise anabolic signaling responses were indistinguishable. CONCLUSION: Fresubin®3.2 kcal DRINK, which contains a 20 g mixed blend of CP+MP, resulted in equivalent MPS responses to MP alone. Fresubin® 3.2 Kcal DRINK may provide a suitable alternative to MP for use in older adults and a convenient way to supplement calories and protein to improve patient adherence and mitigate muscle mass loss.

Omega-3 supplementation during unilateral resistance exercise training in older women: A within subject and double-blind placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The skeletal muscle anabolic effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA) appear favoured towards women; a property that could be exploited in older women who typically exhibit poor muscle growth responses to resistance exercise training (RET). Here we sought to generate novel insights into the efficacy and mechanisms of n-3 PUFA alongside short-term RET in older women. METHODS: We recruited 16 healthy older women (Placebo n = 8 (PLA): 67±1y, n-3 PUFA n = 8: 64±1y) to a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial (n-3 PUFA; 3680 mg/day versus PLA) of 6 weeks fully-supervised progressive unilateral RET (i.e. 6 × 8 reps, 75% 1-RM, 3/wk-1). Strength was assessed by knee extensor 1-RM and isokinetic dynamometry âˆ¼ every 10 d. Thigh fat free mass (TFFM) was measured by DXA at 0/3/6 weeks. Bilateral vastus lateralis (VL) biopsies at 0/2/4/6 weeks with deuterium oxide (D2O) dosing were used to determine MPS responses for 0-2 and 4-6 weeks. Further, fibre cross sectional area (CSA), myonuclei number and satellite cell (SC) number were assessed, alongside muscle anabolic/catabolic signalling via immunoblotting. RESULTS: RET increased 1-RM equally in the trained leg of both groups (+23 ± 5% n-3 PUFA vs. +25 ± 5% PLA (both P < 0.01)) with no significant increase in maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) (+10 ± 6% n-3 PUFA vs. +13 ± 5% PLA). Only the n-3 PUFA group increased TFFM (3774 ± 158 g to 3961 ± 151 g n-3 PUFA (P < 0.05) vs. 3406 ± 201 g to 3561 ± 170 PLA) and type II fibre CSA (3097 ± 339 µm2 to 4329 ± 264 µm2 n-3 PUFA (P < 0.05) vs. 2520 ± 316 µm2 to 3467 ± 303 µm2 in PL) with RET. Myonuclei number increased equally in n-3 PUFA and PLA in both type I and type II fibres, with no change in SC number. N-3 PUFA had no added benefit on muscle protein synthesis (MPS), however, during weeks 4-6 of RET, absolute synthesis rates (ASR) displayed a trend to increase with n-3 PUFA only (5.6 ± 0.3 g d-1 to 7.1 ± 0.5 g d-1 n-3 PUFA (P = 0.09) vs. 5.5 ± 0.5 g d-1 to 6.5 ± 0.5 g d-1 PLA). Further, the n-3 PUFA group displayed greater 4EBP1 activation after acute RE at 6 weeks. CONCLUSION: n3-PUFA enhanced RET gains in muscle mass through type II fibre hypertrophy, with data suggesting a role for MPS rather than via SC recruitment. As such, the present study adds to a literature base illustrating the apparent enhancement of muscle hypertrophy with RET in older women fed adjuvant n3-PUFA.

Invited review: New perspectives on the roles of nutrition and metabolic priorities in the subfertility of high-producing dairy cows.

Management, nutrition, production, and genetics are the main reasons for the decline in fertility in the modern dairy cow. Selection for the single trait of milk production with little consideration for traits associated with reproduction in the modern dairy cow has produced an antagonistic relationship between milk yield and reproductive performance. The outcome is a multi-factorial syndrome of subfertility during lactation; thus, to achieve a better understanding and derive a solution, it is necessary to integrate a range of disciplines, including genetics, nutrition, immunology, molecular biology, endocrinology, metabolic and reproductive physiology, and animal welfare. The common theme underlying the process is a link between nutritional and metabolic inputs that support complex interactions between the gonadotropic and somatotropic axes. Multiple hormonal and metabolic signals from the liver, pancreas, muscle, and adipose tissues act on brain centers regulating feed intake, energy balance, and metabolism. Among these signals, glucose, fatty acids, insulin-like growth factor-I, insulin, growth hormone, ghrelin, leptin, and perhaps myostatin appear to play key roles. Many of these factors are affected by changes in the somatotropic axis that are a consequence of, or are needed to support, high milk production. Ovarian tissues also respond directly to metabolic inputs, with consequences for folliculogenesis, steroidogenesis, and the development of the oocyte and embryo. Little doubt exists that appropriate nutritional management before and after calving is essential for successful reproduction. Changes in body composition are related to the processes that lead to ovulation, estrus, and conception. However, better indicators of body composition and measures of critical metabolites are required to form precise nutritional management guidelines to optimize reproductive outcomes. The eventual solution to the reduction in fertility will be a new strategic direction for genetic selection that includes fertility-related traits. However, this will take time to be effective, so, in the short term, we need to gain a greater understanding of the interactions between nutrition and fertility to better manage the issue. A greater understanding of the phenomenon will also provide markers for more targeted genetic selection. This review highlights many fruitful directions for research, aimed at the development of strategies for nutritional management of reproduction in the high-producing subfertile dairy cow.

Undernutrition regulates the expression of a novel splice variant of myostatin and insulin-like growth factor 1 in ovine skeletal muscle.

Undernutrition suppresses the growth of skeletal muscles and alters the expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), a key mitogen, and myostatin, a potent inhibitor of myogenesis. These changes can explain, at least in part, the reduced growth of skeletal muscles in underfed lambs. We have recently identified a myostatin splice variant (MSV) that binds to and antagonizes the canonical signaling of myostatin. In the present study, we hypothesized that the expression of MSV would be reduced in conjunction with myostatin and IGF1 in response to underfeeding in skeletal muscles of sheep. Young growing ewes were fed either ad libitum or an energy-restricted diet (30% of maintenance requirements) for 28 d. This regime of underfeeding resulted in a 24% reduction in body mass (P < 0.001) and a 36% reduction in the mass of the semitendinosus muscles relative to controls (P < 0.001) by day 28. The concentrations of MSV and IGF1 messenger RNA (mRNA) were reduced (both P < 0.001), but myostatin mRNA was not altered in semitendinosus muscles. Unlike the reduced expression of mRNA, the abundance of MSV protein was increased (P < 0.05) and there was no change in the abundance of myostatin protein. Our results suggest that undernutrition for 28 d decreases the signaling of myostatin by increasing the abundance of MSV protein. Although this action may reduce the growth inhibitory activity of myostatin, it cannot prevent the loss of growth of skeletal muscles during undernutrition.

Passive immunization against insulin-like growth factor-I does not inhibit growth hormone-stimulated growth of dwarf rats.

Passive immunization against insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) was undertaken in GH-deficient rats in an attempt to elucidate the relative importance of the endocrine vs.autocrine/paracrine actions of IGF-I in stimulating growth. Antiserum against IGF-I was raised in sheep and purified by affinity chromatography. The ability of the purified antibodies to neutralize the actions of IGF-I in vitro and bind IGF-I in vivo were extensively tested using L6 myoblast and cartilage bioassays. Four groups of male rats with isolated GH deficiency were used in the study. At 49 days of age the rats received 100 microliter normal saline given sc each day for 10 days, 2 mg/kg recombinant bovine GH (bGH) given in 100 microliter, sc, each day, 2 mg/kg bGH, sc, and 300 microliter immunoglobulin G purified from normal sheep serum given daily ip, or 2 mg/kg bGH plus 300 microliter anti-IGF-I immunoglobulin G daily, ip (a dose that was able to completely inhibit IGF-I actions on sulfate uptake into cartilage). Treatment with GH significantly increased growth rates (P less than 0.001) in the rats, but there was no difference between any of the three GH-treated groups; passive immunization against IGF-I did not diminish the GH-stimulated growth in these rats. Excess antibody could be detected in the plasma of all anti-IGF-I-treated rats at the conclusion of the experiment, and the antibody was capable of sequestering both free and binding protein-bound IGF-I. The absence of even a slight retardation of GH-stimulated growth in the anti-IGF-I-treated rats suggests that circulating IGF-I may not be important in mediating the growth-promoting actions of GH, although the immunoneutralization probably does not affect GH stimulation of tissue IGF-I production.

Distribution of circulating insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) into tissues.

Intravenous infusions of amino terminal methionyl insulin-like growth factor-I (N-Met IGF-I; 8 micrograms/kg body wt x h; 24 h) were performed in lactating sheep and samples of mammary lymph, cerebrospinal fluid, and postinfusion tissues collected to examine distribution of the recombinant analog outside the vascular space. Samples were analyzed using an antibody specific for N-Met IGF-I and a second IGF-I antibody which recognized endogenous IGF-I and the N-Met variant equally. N-Met IGF-I infusion increased total plasma IGF-I immunoreactivity (ir) from 150 to 290 ng/ml. N-Met IGF-I was distributed into mammary lymph, increasing total lymph IGF-I from 60 to 130 ng/ml. By contrast iv N-Met IGF-I had no significant effect on IGF-I ir in cerebrospinal fluid. N-Met IGF-I was distributed on plasma and lymph IGF binding protein as endogenous IGF-I with binding to the 150,000 mol wt species predominant in plasma and the 40,000-50,000 mol wt pool of proteins predominant in lymph. N-Met IGF-I was also distributed into extra-vascular tissue accounting for 36% (kidney) to 62% (spleen) of total tissue IGF-I ir at the end of the infusion. The IGF-I antibodies were also used for the autoradiographical localization of IGF-I in postinfusion muscle and mammary tissue. No significant difference in antibody binding was observed to muscle fiber and mammary epithelium, but in marked contrast binding of the N-Met specific antibody to connective tissue of muscle and mammary was significantly less than the total IGF-I antibody (P less than 0.001; N-Met/total, 0.12). The data suggest that the contribution of blood-derived N-Met to total IGF-I varies markedly between tissues and provides evidence that blood-borne IGF-I may fill specific endocrine functions in selected tissues.

The lipolytic activity of low concentrations of insulin-like growth factors in ovine adipose tissue.

Insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) at concentrations of 40 ng/ml is lipogenic in ovine adipose tissue slices in vitro. Neither human IGF-II (hIGF-II) or rat IGF-II (rIGF-II) [multiplication-stimulating activity (MSA)] is lipogenic at similar concentrations. However, when present at lower concentrations recombinant human IGF-I (rhIGF-I) (400 pg/ml), hIGF-II (0.4 pg/ml), and MSA (40 pg/ml) were lipolytic. As IGF-II appeared more potent than IGF-I in promoting lipolysis, this effect may be mediated via the type 2 IGF receptor. The lipolytic effect of GH may be partly due to the actions of IGFs released locally.

Presence of insulin-like growth factor-I receptors and absence of growth hormone receptors in the antler tip.

Red deer antler tips in the growing phase were removed 60 days after the recommencement of growth for autoradiographical studies and RRAs. Sections were incubated with radiolabeled GH or insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), with or without excess competing unlabeled hormones, and were analyzed autoradiographically. There was negligible binding of [125I]GH in any histological zone of antler sections. [125I]IGF-I showed highest specific binding in the chondroblast zone to a receptor demonstrating binding characteristics of the type 1 IGF receptor. The lowest specific binding of [125I]IGF-I was to prechondroblasts. RRAs on antler microsomal membrane preparations RRAs on antler microsomal membrane preparations confirmed the absence of GH receptors and the presence of type 1 IGF receptors found by autoradiography. These findings suggest that IGF-I may act in an endocrine manner in antler growth through a receptor resembling the type 1 IGF receptor. The presence of type 1 receptors in the chondroblast zone implicates IGF-I involvement in cartilage formation through matrixogenesis. There is no support for IGF-I having a major role in mitosis in the antler.

Glycosaminoglycan binding characteristics of the insulin-like growth factor-binding proteins.

Interactions between the IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) such as heparin may be involved in the regulatory control of IGF exerted by the IGFBPs at the level of the extracellular matrix and capillary endothelium, although the precise mechanisms of this remain uncertain. We have searched primary sequences of human, rat and bovine IGFBPs-1 to -6 for putative GAG-binding consensus sequences (XBBXBX and XBBBXXBX, where B represents any basic amino acid and X is undefined). At least one such sequence was identified in each IGFBP examined except human and rat IGFBP-4 and rat IGFBP-6, with IGFBP-5 containing three GAG-binding consensus sequences. Additionally, the bovine IGF type II receptor was found to contain two such sequences in the intracellular region. Affinity of the IGFBP preparations for heparin was examined experimentally by affinity chromatography using pooled fractions of fetal and adult ovine plasma obtained by size exclusion chromatography. Pooled fractions of 150 kDa (containing IGFBP-3 alone by IGF ligand blot analysis) and 40-50 kDa (containing IGFBPs-3 and -2, together with proteins of 29, 24 and 25-28 kDa which may include IGFBP-4 and IGFBPs-1, -5 and -6) were found to bind strongly to the matrix necessitating high salt concentrations for their elution; however, in contrast, a > 200 kDa fraction containing the soluble form of the type II receptor failed to bind. Recombinant human non-glycosylated IGFBP-3 also bound strongly to the affinity adsorbent. No evidence of dissociation of bound IGF from binding protein complexes by association with the matrix was obtained from this experiment.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Nutritional dependence of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptors in skeletal muscle: measurement by light microscopic autoradiography.

To determine the cellular location, capacity, and nutritional sensitivity of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptors, we measured the in vitro binding of [125I]-IGFs to skeletal muscle using light microscopic autoradiography. Muscle was collected from 8-month lambs that had received high or low nutrition diets (3% and 1.25% of body weight/day in pellets, respectively). Half of each group had also received growth hormone (0.25 mg/kg/day). Cryosections were incubated with [125I]-IGF alone or with unlabeled IGF-1, IGF-2, or insulin to characterize binding sites as probable Type 1 IGF, Type 2 IGF, or insulin receptors. [125I]-IGF-1 was found to bind to blood vessels and Type 1 receptors in connective tissue (p < or = 0.001), but not to muscle fiber or nerves. In muscle from 6-month lambs that were fed or fasted, [125I]-IGF-1 bound to Type 1 receptors in connective tissue (p < or = 0.01 fed; p < or = 0.05 fasted) and muscle fiber (p < or = 0.05). The binding to connective tissue was also greater in fasted than in fed animals (p < or = 0.05). Binding of [125I]-IGF-2 to the Type 2 receptor was located in blood vessels and connective tissue (p < or = 0.01) and did not alter with fasting. Therefore, these experiments have demonstrated that Type 1 and Type 2 receptors vary in their distribution and nutritional sensitivity in skeletal muscle.

Effects of neonatal adrenalectomy and castration on hormonal changes in pubertal bulls.

Plasma samples from intact, adrenalectomized, adrenalectomized and castrated and castrated bulls were assayed for LH, testosterone, androstenedione and oestradiol-17 beta from birth to 26 weeks of age. The adrenalectomized bulls, unlike the intact bulls, failed to show a rise in androstenedione at 14.5 weeks of age or a rise in testosterone at 20 weeks of age. Testosterone levels in the castrated animals remained below 0.4 ng/ml whereas androstenedione reached levels similar to those in intact bulls by 26 weeks of age. In all animals the concentration of oestradiol-17 beta in plasma remained below 25 pg/ml, although intact bulls had the highest levels. Levels of LH rose after castration but not after adrenalectomy. These data show that in bull calves absence of the adrenal glands during prepuberty delays the rise in pubertal testosterone by at least 10 weeks.

Differential regulation of plasma levels of insulin-like growth factors-I and -II by nutrition, age and growth hormone treatment in sheep.

Plasma levels of IGFs-I and -II were measured in 4-month-old ewe lambs (n = 20) and 2-year-old ewes (n = 16), which were well fed (n = 18) or fasted (n = 18) for 3 days. Half of each nutrition group was given daily (0900 h) injections of bovine GH (bGH, 0.1 mg/kg body weight per day) for 3 days. Blood samples were collected immediately before the GH injection every morning. Plasma IGFs were extracted by acid gel permeation chromatography using a Waters Protein Pak 125 column, fitted to a Pharmacia fast protein liquid chromatography system, then freeze-dried, reconstituted (at pH 7.4) and estimated by RIA. At the end of the experiment, IGF-I levels in plasma were increased (P < 0.01) by exogenous bGH in both fed ewes and lambs but not in the fasted animals; plasma IGF-I levels were depressed by fasting (P < 0.01) at all ages. IGF-I levels were also found to be significantly higher (P < 0.01) in ewes than lambs. In contrast, plasma IGF-II concentrations were depressed (P = 0.02) by administration of bGH in all groups and elevated in the ewes (P < 0.05) by fasting. However, the lambs showed no significant changes in IGF-II with fasting. The IGF-II levels were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in lambs than ewes. Results from the present study demonstrate that GH administration stimulated an increase in plasma IGF-I and induced a decrease in plasma IGF-II. On the other hand, fasting depressed plasma IGF-I and elevated plasma IGF-II in the sheep. A significant GH/nutrition interaction for IGF-I (P < 0.01), but not for IGF-II, and a significant nutrition/age interaction for IGF-II (P < 0.01), but not for IGF-I, in the present study suggest that GH has a greater stimulating effect on plasma levels of IGF-I in the fed rather than fasted sheep and that nutrition has a greater influence on plasma levels of IGF-II in the older rather than younger animals, indicating that plasma IGFs-I and -II are differentially regulated by nutrition, GH and developmental stage in postnatal sheep.

The somatotrophic axis in young steers: influence of nutritional status and oestradiol-17 beta on hepatic high- and low-affinity somatotrophic binding sites.

The binding of bovine GH (bGH) to hepatic membranes obtained from steers on either high (3% dry matter of body weight per day) or low (1% dry matter of body weight per day) planes of nutrition with or without an oestradiol-17 beta implant was studied (n = 5 per group). Binding studies were performed on both crude membrane homogenates and on 100,000 g microsomal membrane fractions; identical results were obtained using both preparations. In all four groups of animals, linear Scatchard plots were obtained, but following pretreatment of the membranes with MgCl2 to remove endogenously bound hormone, curvilinear plots were obtained in the groups on the high plane of nutrition. Analysis of these curves suggested the presence of a high- and low-affinity binding site, the high-affinity site being fully occupied in the absence of MgCl2 pretreatment. The specific binding of bGH in MgCl2-pretreated crude membranes was greater (P less than 0.01) in well-fed steers (14.8 +/- 1.6%) than in poorly fed steers (9.8 +/- 0.9%). Scatchard analysis showed this to be due to the presence of a high-affinity site (dissociation constant (Kd) = 11.6 +/- 3.3 pmol/l) in the well-fed animals only. In addition, there was an increase (P less than 0.01) in the affinity, but not in the capacity, of the low-affinity site (Kd = 106.4 +/- 22.8 pmol/l in well-fed steers and 197.0 +/- 23.8 pmol/l in poorly fed steers).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Influence of nutritional status and oestradiol-17 beta on plasma growth hormone, insulin-like growth factors-I and -II and the response to exogenous growth hormone in young steers.

Plasma GH profiles and circulating concentrations of plasma insulin-like growth factors-I and -II (IGF-I and -II) were examined in 20 steers on either high (3% dry matter of body weight per day) or low (1% dry matter of body weight per day) planes of nutrition with or without an implant of oestradiol-17 beta. The response of plasma IGF-I and -II to a bolus injection of bovine GH (bGH) was also investigated. Reduced feeding significantly (P less than 0.01) increased the mean concentration, peak height and integrated area of plasma GH. Treatment of steers with oestradiol at low nutrition significantly increased baseline GH concentrations. Treatment of steers with oestradiol at high nutrition significantly (P less than 0.05) increased mean, baseline, peak height, and integrated area of plasma GH. GH pulse frequency was not changed by either nutritional plane or oestradiol treatment. Basal concentrations of plasma IGF-I were significantly (P less than 0.01) decreased by reduced feeding in both the oestradiol-treated and the control group. Treatment with oestradiol increased (P less than 0.01) basal plasma concentrations of IGF-I at both high and low levels of nutrition. After i.v. injection of bGH (0.1 mg/kg body weight), an increase in plasma IGF-I was observed only in steers at high nutrition. Basal concentrations of plasma IGF-II were not altered by nutritional manipulations but were significantly (P less than 0.001) increased by oestradiol treatment. After bGH infusion only steers at high nutrition showed an increase in plasma IGF-II.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin in the infant calf: ontogeny and influence of altered nutrition.

The developmental pattern of plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and insulin in calves subject to different patterns of weaning was investigated from birth until the age of 6 months. Fifteen male Friesian calves were fed on whole milk (10% of body weight per day) for the first 8 weeks after birth, then allocated into three balanced groups. Group 1 was weaned at 8 weeks; group 2 was weaned at 8 weeks, returned to milk-feeding at 13 weeks to be weaned again at the age of 16 weeks; group 3 was weaned at 12 weeks. After weaning the calves were fed on concentrates and lucerne hay. At birth, circulating concentrations of IGF-I correlated with birth weight (r = 0.78, P less than 0.001). There was a significant (P less than 0.001) fall in plasma IGF-I from birth (40.3 +/- 2.5 micrograms/l) until 5 weeks (23.8 +/- 1.3 micrograms/l), and then a gradual (P less than 0.01) rise until week 8 (35.0 +/- 2.2 micrograms/l). Weaning (groups 1 and 2 after week 8) caused a significant (P less than 0.01) decrease in plasma IGF-I (20.5 +/- 1.9 micrograms/l); thereafter plasma levels of IGF-I rose gradually (P less than 0.01) in animals fed on concentrates. The milk-fed calves (group 3) showed a progressive increase in plasma IGF-I with age until they were weaned at 12 weeks (51.0 +/- 3.4 micrograms/l); IGF-I levels then decreased to be similar to group 1 (32.5 +/- 2.1 micrograms/l).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

GH regulation of the Type 2 IGF receptor in regenerating skeletal muscle of rats.

GH enhances skeletal muscle growth, and IGF-II peptide is highly expressed during regeneration. We have therefore investigated the effect of GH administration on IGF-II binding and expression in regenerating rat skeletal muscle using the techniques of receptor autoradiography and in situ hybridisation. Notexin, a myotoxin, was injected into the right M. biceps femoris (day 0), causing affected fibres to undergo necrosis followed by rapid regeneration. Animals were administered either GH (200 micrograms/100 g body weight) or saline vehicle daily. Contralateral muscles were used as regeneration controls. GH administration during regeneration resulted in significant increases in body weight, and damaged and undamaged muscle weights (P < 0.001). IGF-II expression, which was examined in regenerating fibres, survivor fibres and undamaged fibres, varied according to tissue type (P < 0.001). Specifically, IGF-II expression in regenerating fibres was elevated relative to control and survivor fibres after day 3 (P < 0.05), with a peak on day 9 (P < 0.001). GH did not affect IGF-II message levels. 125I-IGF-II binding in regenerating muscle was examined in the same fibre types as well as in connective tissue. 125I-IGF-II binding in regenerating fibres was higher (P < 0.001) than in other tissue types on day 5. GH administration increased 125I-IGF-II binding in all damaged muscle tissues on day 5 (P < 0.001, regenerating fibres; P < 0.01, others). We believe that this shows for the first time an effect of GH on the Type 2 IGF receptor in regenerating skeletal muscle.

The somatotrophic axis in young steers: influence of nutritional status on pulsatile release of growth hormone and circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1.

The relationship between plasma GH profiles and circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) at three different planes of nutrition, chosen to represent a high, medium and low level of nutrition (3%, 1.8% and 1% dry matter of liveweight per day) was studied in 15 young Angus steers. All steers were maintained on 3% dry matter for 5 weeks, then on one of the three nutritional planes for 4 weeks and then all were returned to 3% dry matter for 3 weeks. Blood was sampled through jugular catheters at 15-min intervals for 25 h at the end of each phase of the study and additional samples were taken on 2 days each week. Pulsatile release of GH occurred episodically with a diurnal increase during night and morning hours only in steers on high nutritional intakes. Reduced feeding at both the medium and the low plane abolished the diurnal rhythm and significantly increased mean plasma GH concentrations, the amplitude of GH pulses and the area under the GH profiles. Baseline concentrations of GH and pulse frequency did not change through nutritional manipulation. Upon realimentation, plasma GH concentrations decreased in both previously undernourished groups, with those fed 1% dry matter still having increased levels 10 days after refeeding. Plasma IGF-1 concentrations showed no periodicity. With nutritional deprivation, a decrease in IGF-1 concentration was observed only at negative energy balance (1% group). In this group plasma IGF-1 concentrations were progressively restored within 1 week of realimentation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Regulation of type 1 insulin-like growth factor (IGF) receptors and IGF-I mRNA by age and nutrition in ovine skeletal muscles.

The relative abundance and location of type 1 IGF receptors in sheep muscles have been measured to determine whether changes occur during post-natal growth and nutritional stress. Using the technique of histological autoradiography, specific binding of 125I-IGF-I in muscle fibre and connective tissue of M. biceps femoris and M. gastrocnemius was demonstrated, as was specific binding to the tendon of M. gastrocnemius and the surrounding connective tissue. The binding site in both muscles was characterised as the type 1 IGF receptor in membrane preparations using competitive binding assay and SDS-PAGE. Type 1 receptors were more abundant in connective tissue than muscle fibre or tendon (P < or = 0.001). Levels changed significantly with age in all tissues (P = 0.054 to P < or = 0.001), while change as a result of fasting was limited to a receptor increase in the connective tissue of M. gastrocnemius (P = 0.034). IGF-I mRNA in M. biceps femoris, as assessed by in situ hybridisation, showed changes in expression with increasing age (P < or = 0.025) but no change with fasting. These data indicate that the distribution, relative abundance and nutritional sensitivity of type 1 receptors are related to cell type in vivo. The overall decline of receptors with increasing age may be a feature of transition from linear animal growth to cell maintenance in adult animals. Connective tissue appears to be more sensitive than muscle fibre to nutrition, possibly allowing the reduction of non-essential metabolism during fasting.

Insulin-like growth factor-I protects myoblasts from apoptosis but requires other factors to stimulate proliferation.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) has been shown to stimulate myoblast proliferation for a limited time after which serum is required to reactivate IGF-I-stimulated myoblast proliferation. The aim of these studies was to determine whether IGF-I can stimulate myoblast proliferation and/or inhibit apoptosis alone or whether co-factors are necessary. This was achieved by investigating the proliferative response of L6 myoblasts to IGF-I and horse serum (HS) and by examining the status of cells in terms of cell number, substrate adherence, cell viability and DNA laddering following incubation with IGF-I and HS. L6 myoblasts proliferate in response to IGF-I after 36 h is not due to accumulation of waste products or lack of IGF-I. The addition of a low level (1% v/v) of HS restores the ability of myoblasts to proliferate in response to IGF-I and this supports the existence of a mitogenic competence factor. Furthermore, myoblasts failing to proliferate in response to IGF-I after 36 h regain the capacity to respond to IGF-I for a further period of 36 h when exposed to fetal bovine serum. Following the initial (36 h) phase of IGF-I-stimulated proliferation, removal of both IGF-I and HS led to a dramatic (60%) reduction in the number of cells fully attached to the culture vessel, with 60% of the completely detached cells dead. Agarose gel electrophoresis of extracts from these detached cells revealed higher levels of DNA laddering than extracts prepared from attached cells with IGF-I present. This suggests that IGF-I acts as a survival factor by protecting cells from apoptosis. In conclusion these experiments support the presence of a mitogenic competence factor in horse serum, which restores the ability of cells to proliferate in response to IGF-I. Unlike proliferation, protection against apoptosis is achieved by IGF-I or HS independently of each other.