Growth hormone induces myocardial expression of creatine transporter and decreases plasma levels of IL-1β in rats during early postinfarct cardiac remodeling

Growth hormone has been proposed as a potential new therapeutic agent for treatment of myocardial infarction (MI) and congestive heart failure (CHF). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of GH on: (a) myocardial expression of creatine transporter (CreaT) during early postinfarct remodeling, (b) myocardial levels of total creatine (TCr) and adenine pool (TAN) and (c) plasma levels of inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), tumor-necrosis-factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in rat model of postinfarct cardiac remodeling. Myocardial infarction (MI) was induced by ligation of the left coronary artery in male Sprague-Dawley rats (200-250 g). Three different groups were studied: MI rats treated with GH (n=11) (3 mg/kg/day), MI rats treated with saline (n=10), and sham operated rats (n=7). In the myocardium from GH treated rats the level of mRNA CreaT expression was significantly increased (p