Interrelated Hormonal Factors in Cardiac Hypertrophy

Abstract

Evidence is presented that cardiac hypertrophy may ultimately be due to metabolic influences of hormones among which the pituitary growth hormone (somatotrophic hormone, STH) is the most important. In hypophysectomized rats, marked cardiac hypertrophy was elicited by administration of STH in the presence of subnormal blood pressure levels. Other hormones, especially the thyroid hormone and the adrenal mineralocorticoids--the latter through their action on myocardial electrolyte balance--seem to play subsidiary roles. Cortisone inhibited the cardiotrophic effect of STH and by itself decreased cardiac mass.