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Comparative Potency of Subtilisin-Cleaved and Intact Human Growth Hormone Measured in Growth Hormone-Deficient Human Subjects^*

DAVID L BUNNER, URBAN J LEWIS and W. P VANDERLAAN^*

Lutcher Brown Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation La Jolla, California 92037

Address requests for reprints to: Dr. David L. Bunner, Division of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Scripps Clinic Medical Group, Inc., Keeney Park, 10666 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037.

Eight GH-deficient subjects received both subtilisin-cleaved human GH (hGH-S) and intact hGH (hGH-I) during short term balance studies to compare the potency of these two forms of GH. Both forms caused nitrogen retention, calciuria, potassium retention, and elevation of blood glucose. The effects on plasma insulin concentrations were inconstant at the doses used. hGH-S was more potent than hGH-I, as measured by nitrogen and potassium retention, and the differences reached levels of statistical significance. hGH-S also caused greater calciuria and increases in fasting and postprandial blood glucose and in postprandial insulin in absolute terms, but these differences did not reach levels of statistical significance. In no instance was hGH-I significantly more potent than hGH-S. We conclude hGH-S, a two-chain form of hGH, caused significantly greater nitrogen and potassium retention in human subjects in short term balance studies than hGH-I. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab 48: 293,1979)

^* This work supported by Grants CA-14025, HL-20517, AM-09537, AM-16065, RR-05514, and RR-00833 from the DHEW; Grant BC-104 from the American Cancer Society, and an award from the Kroc Foundation, Santa Ynez, CA. This is Publication No. 20 from the Lutcher Brown Center.

Olive H. Whittier Memorial Fund Investigator.

Received August 2, 1978.