Insulin-like growth factor mRNA expression in tissues of lean and obese male SHFF/Mcc-facp rats

Abstract

No differences were detected in serum IGF-I levels between lean and obese male SHFF/Mcc-fa^cp rats expressing non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). In contrast, serum insulin levels, and blood glucose levels were significantly elevated in obese as compared to lean littermates (P < 0.05), indicating that the obese animals were diabetic. Northern blot analyses of total tissue RNA using labeled cDNAs for IGF-I and IGF-II revealed a decrease in liver and adipose IGF-I mRNA expression in the obese littermates while IGF-II mRNA expression was decreased only in adipose tissue of obese animals as compared to lean littermates.