EFFECT OF HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE ON THE PROLIFERATION OF HUMAN FETAL ISLET CELLS IN VITRO

In this study it was shown that 1000μg/L hGHin serum-free medium promoted the attachment,spreading and formation of monolayer of islet cells.The radioactivity test indicated that hGH significantlystimulated the DNA synthesis of islet cells(P<0.001).Furthermore,after 48 h exposure to hGH(1000μg/L),both the insulin contents and release of isletcells significantly increased(P<0.001);hGH also en-hanced the responsiveness of fetal islet cells tohigh-concentration glucose plus theophyllinestimulation(P<0.001).However,the effect of hGH inthe medium containing 10% newborn calf serum wasnot so prominent in comparison with that in theserum-free medium.The morphologic assay formitotic cells showed a combination of 1000μg/LhGH and 10% serum was the most efficient for in-ducing the mitosis,the mitotic index being 5.95%.Wecoulude that hGH is an important growth factor forhuman islet cells.