Growth hormone mitigates loss of periosteal bone formation and muscle mass in disuse osteopenic rats.

Growth hormone (GH) is a potent anabolic agent capable of increasing both bone and muscle mass. The aim was to investigate whether GH could counteract disuse-induced loss of bone and muscle mass in a rat model. Paralysis was induced by injecting 4 IU Botox (BTX) into the muscles of the right hind limb. Sixty female Wistar rats, 14 weeks old, were divided into the following groups: baseline, controls, BTX, BTX+GH, and GH. GH was given at a dosage of 5 mg/kg/d for 4 weeks. Compared with controls, BTX resulted in lower periosteal bone formation rate (BFR/BS,-79%, P<0.001), bone mineral density (aBMD, -13%, P<0.001), trabecular bone volume (BV/TV, -26%, P<0.05), and mid-femoral bone strength (-12%, P<0.05). In addition, BTX reduced rectus femoris muscle mass (-69%, P<0.001) and muscle cell cross sectional area (CSA) (-73%, P<0.001) compared with controls. GH counteracted disuse-induced losses of periosteal BFR/BS (2-fold increase vs. BTX, P<0.001), whereas no effect on aBMD, trabecular BV/TV, or bone strength was found. In addition, GH partly prevented loss of muscle mass (+29% vs. BTX, P<0.001), and tended to prevent loss of muscle CSA (+11%, P=0.064). In conclusion, GH mitigates disuse-induced loss of periosteal BFR/BS at the mid-femur and rectus femoris muscle mass.