Influence of growth hormone on bone marrow adipogenesis in hypophysectomized rats

The hypophysectomized rat has been used as a model to study the effects of growth hormone deficiency on bone. Here, we have investigated the influence of growth hormone administration to hypophysectomized rats (HX) for 6 wk on accumulation of triglycerides in bone marrow and on the differentiation of primary marrow stromal cells into adipocytes under in vitro conditions. We found that hypophysectomy significantly increased triglyceride concentration in bone marrow, which was attenuated by growth hormone administration. Primary bone marrow stromal cells derived from HX rats also had more adipocytes at confluence compared with growth hormone-treated hypophysectomized (GH) rats. When stimulated with 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine plus dexamethasone (IBMX-Dex), preadipocyte colony counts increased more significantly in GH rats. Markers of adipocyte differentiation were higher in HX than in control or GH rats at confluence. However, after stimulation with IBMX-Dex, increased expression of markers was seen in GH compared with HX rats. In conclusion, growth hormone administration to hypophysectomized rats attenuated triglyceride accumulation in bone marrow and inhibited the differentiation of stromal cells into adipocytes in vitro.