Effects of calcium depletion and repletion on serum insulin-like growth factor I and binding protein levels in weanling rats

Previous studies in a weanling rat model indicated that dietary calcium depletion not only stimulated osteoclastic resorption but also inhibited bone formation. The present study sought to test whether the depletion-associated inhibition of bone formation is related to a reduction in serum insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and/or an increase in its binding proteins (IGFBPs). Twenty male weanling rats were divided into two weight-matched groups. The study group was subjected to a semisynthetic diet deficient in calcium (0.02% calcium) for 28 days, while the control group was pair-weighed on the same diet but containing 0.62% calcium. After the depletion phase, all rats were fed the same calcium-containing diet for an additional 14 days. Serum samples were obtained from each animal on a weekly basis and assayed for IGF-I and IGFBPs. During depletion, there was no statistically significant difference in serum IGF-I level between the study group and the control group. In contrast, the study group showed a statistically significant increase in several serum IGFBPs with apparent molecular size of 30-38 kD (IGFBP-3), 26-28 kD (IGFBP-1, -2, -5, and/or -6), and 24-25 kD (IGFBP-4), respectively, compared to the control group. There was no difference in nutritional intakes between the two groups of rats during depletion. During repletion, there was also no significant difference in serum IGF-I level between the control and study group. However, during the first 7 days of repletion, serum IGFBP-3 and the 26-28 kD IGFBP of the study group was significantly less than those of the control group, which then returned to the control level after 2 weeks of repletion. In summary: (1) calcium depletion in weanling rats increased several serum IGFBPs without an effect on IGF-I; and (2) calcium repletion induced an acute reduction in serum IGFBP-3. In conclusion, these findings represent the first evidence that the depletion-related inhibition of bone formation in the rat may be associated with an increase in several serum IGFBPs, which may act to inhibit the osteogenic actions of IGFs.