Antilipogenic action of synthetic C-terminal sequence 177-191 of human growth hormone.

The synthetic C-terminal peptide fragment of human growth hormone, Leu-Arg-Ile-Val Gln-Cys-Arg-Val-Ser-Glu-Gly-Ser-Cys-Gly-Phe (hGH 177-191), was shown to have antilipogenic activity identical with that of the intact molecule of human growth hormone (hGH). No significant lipolytic effect of hGH 177-191 was found as determined by the rate of glycerol release from epididymal fat pads of the peptide-treated rats. The results support the suggestion that the functional domain responsible for the antilipogenic activity of hGH resides in the C-terminal region of the molecule and that the main physiological effect of hGH in lipid metabolism is at the level of lipogenesis.