Refeeding increases hepatic insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) gene expression and plasma IGF-I concentration in fasted chicks

• Published in: British poultry science Vol. 39; no. 5; pp. 679 - 682
• Main Author: KITA, K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Group 01.12.1998; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Animals; Chickens; Fasting; Gene Expression Regulation; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - biosynthesis; Insulin-Like Growth Factor I - genetics; Liver - metabolism; Male; RNA, Messenger - metabolism
• ISSN: 0007-1668; 1466-1799
• DOI: 10.1080/00071669888566

1. We examined the influence of refeeding after 2 d of fasting on plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentration and hepatic IGF-I gene expression in chickens at 6 weeks of age. 2. Hepatic IGF-I mRNA was measured by ribonuclease protection assay and plasma IGF-I concentration was determined by radioimmunoassay. 3. Plasma IGF-I concentration decreased following fasting, increased to the level of fed controls after 2 h of refeeding but then fell back to the level of fasted chickens after 6 h of refeeding. 4. Fasting reduced hepatic IGF-I mRNA concentrations to less than half of those in the fed controls. Refeeding increased IGF-I mRNA sharply at 2 h after refeeding, but by 6 h after refeeding they had taller back again to levels significantly lower than at 2 h. 5. A significant correlation between plasma IGF-I concentration and hepatic IGF-I gene expression was found, suggesting that when chicks are refed after 2 d of fasting, the short-term increase in plasma IGF-I concentration may be partly regulated by the alteration in hepatic IGF-I mRNA.