Abstract
An acromegaly-like rat model recently developed by exogenous administration of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) was used to investigate morphological and histopathological tongue changes and clarify whether the changes were reversible. Human recombinant IGF-I (640 μg/day) was continuously subcutaneously infused into ten-week-old male rats for four weeks (IGF-I group; n = 6). Control sham-operated animals were injected saline alone (control group; n = 6). Rats were sacrificed immediately on ending administration at the age of fourteen weeks. Another 12 rats (6 from each group) were housed for an additional four weeks after administration ended. Total IGF-I (human + rat) increased significantly during administration, returning to control levels afterwards. Tongue weights significantly increased with histopathological changes present (increases in the muscle-bundle width, spaces between muscle-bundles and epithelium thickness) in the IGF-I group compared to control rats. Tongue size returned to control levels after discontinuation of IGF-I administration. These findings suggest that the characteristic tongue enlargement was developed experimentally in our acromegaly-like rat model, and that such morphological and histopathological tongue changes are reversible on normalization of circulating IGF-I levels.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 146-151 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Hormone and Metabolic Research |
Volume | 38 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2006 Mar 1 |
Keywords
- Acromegaly
- IGF-I
- Oral soft tissues
- Rat model
- Tongue enlargement
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
- Biochemistry
- Endocrinology
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Biochemistry, medical