Changes of plasma levels of human growth hormone with age in relation to mammary tumour appearance in whey acidic protein/human growth hormone (mWAP/hGH) transgenic female and male mice.

Plasma levels of human growth hormone (hGH) were determined in female and male transgenic mice with human growth hormone fusion gene driven by the promoter of mouse whey acidic protein (mWAP/hGH) at 3, 6 and 9 months of age and at mammary tumour appearance. In female transgenic mice developing mammary tumours, the plasma hGH level decreased markedly upon tumour appearance, which was associated with little change in body weight. In contrast, the hGH level changed little in transgenic male mice with tumours. In female and male transgenic mice without mammary tumours, the pattern of the change of hGH levels was variable; some showed high levels at all three time points (3, 6, and 9 months) and others had none or high levels at one or two time points.