The effects of pituitary, thyroid, pancreatic and sexual hormones on body length and weight and organ weights of Snell dwarf mice.

A dose-dependent increase in body length and weight can be induced in Snell dwarf mice by human, porcine and bovine growth hormones, ovine prolactin, bovine TSH, T4 and T3, and to a lesser extent by insulin. In contrast, porcine FSH, equine LH, testosterone, oestradiol and glucagon influenced neither body length nor weight. Beside body length and weight, the weight of many organs is stimulated by hormonal treatment. GH, T4 and T3 have a rather similar spectrum of effects, with exceptions for the skinfold and epididymal fat-pads. LH had no effect, but in contrast FSH had a strong effect on the seminal vesicles and a less pronounced one on the testis. Oestradiol induced a marked enlargement of the uterus, whereas testosterone increased the weights of the kidneys and seminal vesicles. The main action of insulin is probably localized on body fat. Glucagon, however, did not stimulate organ growth. These data illustrate again the complexity of hormonal regulation of growth.