Body weight recovery in intrauterine growth-retarded rats treated with growth hormone

The aim of this work was to analyze the action of growth hormone (GH) on postnatal body weight recovery in intrauterine growth-retarded (IUGR) rats. Wistar rats were assigned to three groups: 1) control; 2) IUGR and 3) sham-operated. Uterine vessels of dams in the IUGR group were partially bent on the 14th day of pregnancy. At weaning, some IUGR pups were randomly selected and injected with GH (3 mg/kg/day), up to the 60th day. A standard diet ad libitum was available to mothers and offspring. The animals were weighed and food intake was recorded weekly. The weight gained velocity and relative food intake (RFI) was calculated. IUGR animals showed significant lower body weights than the control group. GH treatment allowed body weight recovery in IUGR rats. In females, body weight increased 14 days before males, and the former had greater RFI values. In conclusion, our results indicated differences in sexual responses to GH treatment. There is a need for more research on the mechanisms involved in that sexual difference.