Relationship Between Insulin and Growth Hormone in Growth and Development of Rat Submandibular Glands

Summary Alloxan diabetes mellitus was induced in weanling female Sprague-Dawley strain rats. Diabetics in the test groups were given daily subcutaneous injection of 1 U of protemine zinc insulin (PZI), 50 or 100 μg of growth hormone (GH) or 1 U of PZI plus 50 μg of GH/100 g of body weight for 14 days. Diabetic and intact controls were similarly treated with vehicle. A significant retardation of the growth of salivary glands was shown in the diabetics as compared to intact controls. In the diabetics, PZI treatment resulted in a significant stimulation and GH treatment in an inhibition of the growth of the salivary glands. PZI and GH administered concurrently exhibited a synergism in stimulating salivary gland growth.