EFFECTS OF STILBOESTROL ON GROWTH HORMONE SECRETION AND PITUITARY CELL PROLIFERATION IN THE MALE RAT

Abstract

SUMMARY A single 12 mg dose of stilboestrol dipropionate given to 100-day-old male rats resulted in increased pituitary mitotic activity, pituitary weight and serum growth hormone; the latter rose from a mean value of 20 ng/ml to a maximum of 342 ng/ml 9 days later. Serum growth hormone and pituitary mitotic activity then gradually diminished but were still slightly increased on day 28. Serum growth hormone and pituitary weight were significantly correlated during the periods of rapidly rising and of sustained high levels of serum growth hormone. Indices of mitotic activity were correlated with serum growth hormone during the periods of rapidly rising and of falling levels of serum growth hormone.