Developmental patterns of plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and body growth in mice from lines divergently selected on the basis of plasma IGF-I

A study was conducted to investigate developmental patterns of plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), body growth and body composition in mice from lines selected for seven generations on the basis of low (L) or high (H) plasma IGF-I, and in a random-bred control (C) line. Litter size was standardized to eight individuals with equal sex ratios (as far as possible) within 48 h of birth. Pups were weaned at an average of 21 days and separated on the basis of sex. Blood samples were collected from one male and one female of each litter on days, 21, 42, 63 and 105 for analysis of plasma concentrations of IGF-I. The animals were then killed and analysed for water, fat and crude protein content.The plasma concentration of IGF-I was influenced by line (P<0·05) but not by sex. Significant (P< 0·001) differences in liveweight between mice from L and H lines were first evident at 21 days of age. From 28 until 105 days of age the H line was significantly (P< 0·001) heavier than both L and C lines, but differences between C and L lines were inconsistent and mostly non-significant. The growth velocity of the H line was significantly greater than that of C or L lines between 14 and 42 days of age, but differences in growth velocities of C compared with L lines were generally non-significant.Nose–anus length was significantly (P<0·01) affected by sex and line from 42 to 105 days of age, but anus–tail length was not affected by sex or line at any age. Effects of sex and line on empty (digesta-free) body weight and wet weights of carcass and skin plus viscera fractions followed a pattern similar to those of liveweights. The effects of sex and line on protein, water and fat content also paralleled their effects on body size. Differences between males and females, and between the lines, in amount of protein, water and fat could be entirely accounted for by the corresponding differences in body weight.It is concluded from these results that divergent selection on the basis of plasma IGF-I at 42 days of age resulted in lines of animals differing in plasma IGF-I from 21 days of age until maturity. These divergent concentrations of IGF-I are associated with differences between the lines in body growth, particularly during the period of accelerated growth at puberty, but not with changes in body composition.Journal of Endocrinology(1990) 124,151–158