Table 1.
Effects of 14 days of administration of thyroxine (T4), glucocorticoids (GC) and growth hormone (GH) were studied in male hypophysectomized (Hx) rats. Intact rats were also used. The parameters that were studied were: body weight (BW), wet hindquarter (HQ weight), dry HQ, oedema, left (LV) and right (RV) ventricular and heart weight (HW) as well on structural properties in the skeletal muscle bed. The perfusion resistance (PR) was calculated as PR/flow (ml/min)/100g dry HQ weight for noradrenalin and angiotensin II (Ang II)/phenylephrine (Phe) responses. The ED-50 value demonstrates the half-maximal effect of the effective noradrenalin dose, demonstrating the adreno-receptor sensitivity. Maximal noradrenaline and Ang and Phe responses reflect the average medial bulk of contractile tissues. Values are expressed as MEAN±SE. §denotes that both protocol 1 and 2 are included. *denotes that the number in the groups are changed, intact group n=8, Hx-group n=6 and GH group n=6. adenotes p<0.05 vs. intact, bdenotes p<0.05 vs. Hx-[T4+GC].
| Intact | Hx [T4+GC] | Hx GH+ [T4+GC] | |
| N | 14 | 12 | 12 |
| BW (g) | 402 ± 5 | 222 ± 3a | 265 ± 5a, b |
| Wet HQ weight (g/100 g BW) | 44.4 ± 1.0 | 43.3 ± 3.1 | 41.7 ± 1.7a |
| Dry HQ weight (g/100 g BW) | 21.6 ± 0.3 | 18.4 ± 0.6a | 15.6 ± 1.7a, b |
| Oedema (%) | 51 ± 1 | 57 ± 2 | 62 ± 2a, b |
| LV weight (mg/100 g BW)§ | 161.6 ± 12.6 | 164.4 ± 16.2 | 158.5 ± 14.7b |
| RV weight (mg/100 g BW)§ | 41.9 ± 9.9 | 42.1 ± 9.8 | 39.9 ± 9.9 |
| HW (mg/100 g BW)§ | 203.3 ± 15.0 | 206.5 ± 20.3 | 186.4 ± 29.3a, b |
| ED 50 value of noradrenalin | 0.593 ± 0.066 | 0.463 ± 0.05a | 0.584 ± 0.074b |
| PR Noradrenalin response (mmHg/ml/min/100 g dry HQ) | 23.64 ± 2.4 | 13.8 ± 0.8a | 13.8 ± 1.4a |
| PR Ang II + Phe response (mmHg/ml/min/100 g dry HQ)* | 33 ± 7 | 17 ± 2 | 22 ± 5 |
Values are expressed as MEAN ± SE. §denotes that animals from both protocol 1 and 2 are included. *denotes that the number in the groups are changed, intact group n = 8, Hx-group n = 6 and GH group n = 6. adenotes p < 0.05 vs. intact, bdenotes p < 0.05 vs. Hx- [T4+GC]