Prostate cancer (PCa) represents the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death in males. Initial development and progression of the disease is mainly regulated by androgens. However, the pathology of the disease may progress to a loss of hormone dependence, resulting in rapid growth and a metastatic phenotype. Invasion and metastasis of tumour cells results from the degradation of the basement membrane (BM) and extracellular matrix (ECM). The degradation of the BM and ECM is in part mediated by a family of proteinases called the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Currently more than 20 members of the MMP family have been identified and they are further divided in to sub-classes according to their protein structure. Collectively, MMPs are capable of degrading essentially all ECM components. High expression of some MMPs correlates with a malignant phenotype of various tumours. This study focused on the expression and regulation of a sub-class of MMPs called the membrane-type MMPs (MT-MMPs) in PCa. To date 6 MT-MMPs have been identified and they are characterized by a transmembrane domain, followed by a short cytoplasmic tail (MT1-, MT2-, MT3- and MT5-MMPs) or a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) moiety (MT4- and MT6-MMPs). MT-MMPs are thought to play a key role in tumour cell invasion by virtue of their ability to activate MMP-2 (a secreted MMP, which is implicated in many metastatic tumours) and their direct degradation activity on ECM components. Elevated MT-MMP expression has been shown in breast, colon, skin, stomach, lung, pancreas and brain cancers. Until very recently there had been no studies conducted on MT-MMPs in PCa. The few studies preceding or occurring in parallel with this one, have mainly reported the mRNA expression of these enzymes in PCa. Most studies have focused on MT1-MMP. Thus, at the commencement of this project there were many unexplored aspects of the expression and regulation of the broader MT-MMP family in PCa. The aims of this study were to examine: 1 a) The expression of MT-MMPs in prostate cancer cell lines using RT-PCR and western blot analysis and b) expression of MT1-MMP and MT5-MMP in BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) and PCa clinical tissue sections by immunohistochemistry. 2) The regulation of MT1-MMP, MT3-MMP and MT5-MMP in PCa cell lines by Concanavalin A (Con A), phorbol-12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and insulin-like growth factors I and II (IGF I and IGF II) using western blot analysis. In this study RWPE1, a transformed but non-tumorigenic prostate cell line was used as a "normal" prostate cell model, ALVA-41 and LNCaP as androgen-dependent PCa cell models and DU-145 and PC-3 as androgen-independent PCa cell models. The mRNA expression for the 6 MT-MMPs was determined by RT-PCR. The results indicate that MT1- and MT3-MMP were detected in all cell lines. This is the first study to report MT1-MMP mRNA expression in LNCaP cells and MT3-MMP mRNA in DU-145 cells. MT2-MMP mRNA was detected in only LNCaP and DU-145 cells, whilst MT5-MMP was detected in PC-3, DU-145 and LNCaP cells. nterestingly, MT2-, MT4-, MT5- or MT6-MMP mRNA expression was not detected in the "normal" cell line RWPE1, perhaps indicating an induction in gene transcription in tumour cells. MT4-MMP mRNA was only detected in the androgen-independent cell lines, indicating a potential role in the invasion and metastasis processes of the aggressive androgen-independent PCa. In this study, very low expression of MT6-MMP was detected only in LNCaP and DU-145 cells. Previously there had been no reports on the expression of MT6-MMP in the normal or cancerous prostate. Due to the mRNA of MT1-, MT3- and MT5-MMPs being the predominant MT-MMPs expressed in the current study, and the availability of suitable antibodies against them, the protein expression of these three MT-MMPs was studied by western blot analysis. MT1-, MT3- and MT5-MMP protein expression was detected in the cell lysates and conditioned medium (CM) of RWPE1, LNCaP and PC-3 cells. For each MT-MMP, various protein species were detected including putative proforms, mature (active) forms, processed or fragmented forms as well as soluble or shed forms. The presence of soluble or shed forms of MT-MMPs in the CM of cultures of "normal" and PCa cells could imply one of the following mechanisms: ectodomain shedding by either extracellular sheddases, the secretion of intracellular processed proteins without the transmembrane domain, the release of membrane vesicles containing membrane-bound enzymes, or the presence of alternatively spliced mRNA, which gives rise to MT-MMPs without a transmembrane domain. Further characterization of these various forms, including their amino acid sequence, is required to fully elucidate their structural composition. Despite the detection of the mRNA, we did not detect the cell-associated proteins of MT1-MMP and MT5-MMP and only very low expression of MT3-MMP in DU-145 cells (CM of DU-145 cells were not screened for soluble forms of the enzymes). This is the first study to report MT5-MMP expression at the protein level in prostate derived cell lines. Immunohistochemistry was carried out on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and PCa clinical tissues using MT1- and MT5-MMP antibodies to determine their cellular localisation in benign and cancer glands. MT1- and MT5-MMPs were expressed in BPH and moderate and high grade PCa. MT1-MMP expression was highest in moderate grade cancer compared to BPH and high grade cancer. MT1-MMP expression was predominantly observed in the cytoplasm of secretory epithelial cells of both benign and cancer glands, although in cancer glands, some nuclear staining was also observed. Stromal expression of MT1-MMP was only observed in high grade cancer. This study is the first to report the immunolocalization of MT5-MMP outside the brain and in kidneys of diabetic patients. MT5-MMP was predominantly expressed in the cytoplasm of the secretory cells in benign glands. In the cancer glands, staining was heterogeneous with low to intense staining, mainly in the nuclei, plasma membrane and cytoplasm of secretory epithelial cells. Stromal expression of MT5-MMP was only observed in cancer tissues, particularly in high grade cancer. To study the regulation of MT-MMPs in PCa, we treated LNCaP and PC-3 cells, with either Con A, PMA, DHT or IGF-I and -II and studied the protein expression of MT1-, MT3- and MT5-MMPs by western blot analysis. Con A and PMA have been shown to stimulate MMP expression in other cell systems. Con A treatment showed a general increase in the protein expression of MT1-, MT3- and MT5-MMPs. By far the greatest induction by Con A observed was the nearly 4 fold increase in MT5-MMP expression caused by 40μg/mL Con A treatment of PC-3 cells. PMA treatment of LNCaP and PC-3 cells appeared to increase shedding or secretion of all three MT-MMPs in to the CM. This increase in the soluble forms corresponded to a decrease in cell-associated forms in LNCaP cells. Treatment of LNCaP with DHT alone and treatment of LNCaP and PC-3 cells with IGF-I and -II alone failed to detect any change in expression of MT1-MMP. The information gathered in this study on MT-MMPs with respect to cellular localization, expression levels and regulation by growth factors or chemicals that mimic their actions, will aid in our understanding of the role of MT-MMPs in PCa. This study provides strong preliminary data for further research, particularly with respect to functional studies of MT-MMPs in PCa. Understanding the processes which govern the actions of such proteins as these will provide potential insights into development of new management and therapeutic regimens to prevent cancer progression.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file (viewed Feb. 7, 2008). Includes bibliographical references.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Licentiatavhandling (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Univ., 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

O nível sérico do Fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina tipo I (IGF-I) é fundamental para auxiliar no dignóstico e controle terapêutico dos transtornos relacionados à secreção do Hormônio de Crescimento (GH), bem como no diagnóstico e seguimento de outras doenças. Estabelecer valores de referência para as dosagens séricas de IGF-I por um ensaio imunoquimioluminométrico (ICMA), utilizando o sistema automatizado Immulite 2000/Diagnostic Products Corporation (DPC), e por um ensaio imunoradiométrico (IRMA), utilizando o kit comercial ACTIVE IGF-I/Diagnostic System Laboratories (DSL)-5600, numa população brasileira adulta da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. Este estudo, aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética do Instituto Estadual de Hematologia Arthur de Siqueira Cavalcanti, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, incluiu amostras de 484 indivíduos saudáveis (251 homens e 233 mulheres) com idades entre 18 e 70 anos. As amostras foram estudadas por ICMA- Immulite 2000/DPC and IRMA- ACTIVE IGF-I/DSL-5600. Para análise dos dados foram utilizados modelos específicos para idade e sexo, após transformação dos dados de IGF-I. Foi observada uma lenta diminuição dos níveis de IGF-I com a idade usando ambos os ensaios. Os níveis de IGF-I foram signicativamente (p=0,0181) mais elevados em mulheres do que em homens, quando as amostras foram analisadas usando ICMA. Não houve diferença significativa dos níveis de IGF-I entre homens e mulheres quando as amostras foram analisadas usando IRMA. Este estudo estabeleceu valores de referência de IGF-I específicos para idade e sexo, determinados com o sistema automatizado ICMA-Immulite 2000/DPC, e valores de referência de IGF-I específicos para idade, determinados com o kit comercial IRMA- ACTIVE IGF-I/DSL-5600, em uma população adulta brasileira, da cidade do Rio de Janeiro. / Serum level of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) is fundamental in order to aid in the diagnosis and follow-up of growth hormone (GH)-related disorders, as well as in the diagnosis and follow-up of other diseases. The aim of this investigation was to determine reference values for IGF-I using an automated immunochemiluminometric assay (ICMA) system Immulite 2000/Diagnostic Products Corporation (DPC); and an immunoradiometric assay (IRMA), using the commercial kit ACTIVE IGF-I/Diagnostic System Laboratories (DSL)-5600, in an adult Brazilian population of Rio de Janeiro city. The study, approved by the Ethical Committee of the Instituto Estadual de Hematologia Arthur de Siqueira Cavalcanti, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, included samples of blood taken from 484 healthy subjects (251men, 233 women) aged from 18 up to 70. The samples were analyzed by ICMA- Immulite 2000/DPC and IRMA- ACTIVE IGF-I/DSL-5600. For statistical analysis, age and sex-specific models were fitted after transformation of IGF-I values. In adulthood, a slow age-dependent decrease was found, using both assays. IGF-I in women were significantly (p=0,0181) higher than in men when samples were analayzed using ICMA.There was no significant difference between men and women IGF-I values when samples were analayzed using IRMA. The present study established age- and sex specific IGF-I reference values, determined with the automated system: ICMA-Immulite 2000/DPC and age-specific IGF-I reference values determined with the IRMA- ACTIVE IGF-I/DSL-5600, in an adult Brazilian population of Rio de Janeiro city.

O hormônio da paratireóide (PTH) tem sido utilizado como um agente anabólico ósseo para o tratamento de condições de osteopenia / osteoporose, prevenção e consolidação de fraturas. O papel do fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina I (IGF-I), como um potencial mediador dos efeitos anabólicos do PTH, é controverso. O rato dwarf pode ser adequado para o estudo dessas interações in vivo, uma vez que a os níveis séricos de hormônio do crescimento (GH) encontram-se reduzidos a cerca de 6% dos valores normais em fêmeas e os níveis séricos de IGF-I, a cerca de 10% dos valores normais, mas estes animais são saudáveis e sem malformações esqueléticas. Os objetivos deste estudo foram: 1 - Avaliar o rato dwarf (dw-/dw-) como um modelo animal para o estudo dos efeitos da deficiência do GH e do IGF-I sobre o esqueleto e o metabolismo ósseo; 2 - Comparar os efeitos do tratamento com PTH sobre o esqueleto e formação óssea em ratos dwarf e em ratos Lewis, sua linhagem de origem. A partir de 9 semanas de idade, ratas Lewis e dwarf receberam injeções por via subcutânea, diariamente, por duas semanas, com medicamento placebo ou fragmento de hormônio paratireóideo humano, hPTH 1-34, na dose de 50 g / kg de peso corpóreo (N = 7-13/grupo). Foram realizadas avaliações do peso corpóreo semanalmente e, por ocasião da eutanásia, na 11ª semana, foram coletadas amostras de sangue para realização de dosagens séricas de IGF-I (ELISA). As vértebras lombares e as metáfises proximais das tíbias foram avaliadas por meio de histomorfometria óssea. Os fêmures direitos foram mensurados e analisados por tomografia quantitativa periférica computadorizada (pQCT). Os níveis séricos de IGF-I mostraram-se três vezes menores nas ratas dwarf quando comparados aos observados nas ratas Lewis, a despeito do tratamento com PTH, que não provocou aumento de IGF-I em nenhum dos dois grupos. No entanto, o PTH aumentou significativamente o volume ósseo trabecular em ambos os grupos, dwarf (p<0.003) e Lewis (p < 0.0001) comparados aos seus respectivos grupos controle, efeito associado ao aumento da espessura e da distância trabeculares. As ratas dwarf tratadas com PTH também exibiram aumentos de 7 a 13 vezes na superfície de mineralização e na taxa de formação óssea respectivamente, quando comparadas às ratas dwarf tratadas com placebo, enquanto as ratas Lewis tratadas com PTH mostraram aumentos de 3 e 4 vezes quando comparadas as ratas Lewis tratadas com placebo. A taxa de aposição mineral, indicativa de atividade osteoblástica, estava aumentada nas ratas dwarf e Lewis tratadas com PTH (p<0.0001) comparadas aos seus respectivos grupos controle. As análises pela pQCT das metáfises femorais distais revelaram que todos os parâmetros estruturais do osso trabecular (BMC total, BMD total, BMC trabecular e BMD trabecular) também apresentaram valores significativamente aumentados nas ratas, Lewis e dwarf, tratadas com PTH, quando comparadas às ratas tratadas com placebo (p<0.0001). Ao se considerar os parâmetros para o osso cortical, praticamente todos os valores obtidos nas diáfises femorais (BMC total, BMD total, BMC cortical, BMD cortical, área cortical, espessura cortical, circunferência periosteal e endosteal) não mostraram qualquer efeito do tratamento com PTH nos dois grupos. Em conclusão, o PTH induziu efeitos anabólicos altamente significativos no tecido ósseo trabecular das tíbias e vértebras lombares, a despeito dos baixos níveis circulantes de IGF-I em animais da linhagem dwarf. A resposta positiva ao tratamento com PTH confirma a sua utilização terapêutica como potente agente anabólico ósseo mesmo em face à deficiência no eixo GH/IGF-I / The parathyroid hormone (PTH) has been used as a bone anabolic agent to treat osteopenic/osteoporotic conditions, prevention and healing of fractures. The role of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) as a potential mediator for the bone anabolic effects of PTH is controversial. The dwarf rat (dw-/dw-) may be suitable to study these interactions in vivo, since GH synthesis is selectively reduced to about 6% of normal in females, and serum IGF-I levels are about 10% of normal, but these animals are healthy without skeletal malformations. The objectives of this study were: 1- Evaluate the dwarf rat (dw-/dw-) as an animal model for studies of the effects of GH and IGF-I deficiency on the skeleton and bone metabolism; 2- Compare the skeletal effects of PTH treatment in dwarf rats and their background strain, Lewis rats. At 9 weeks of age, female Lewis and dwarf rats were injected SC daily for 2 weeks with vehicle or human parathyroid hormone fragment, hPTH 1-34, at a dose of 50 g/kg body weight (N=7- 13/group). The body weight was evaluated weekly and at the time of euthanasia, at 11 weeks, blood samples were collected. Serum IGF-I was measured by ELISA, and cancellous bone histomorphometry was performed in the lumbar vertebral body and tibial proximal metaphysis. The right femurs were measured, scanned and analyzed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Serum levels of IGF-I were nearly 3-fold lower in dwarf rats compared with Lewis rats regardless of treatment, but PTH treatment did not increase serum IGF-I in either Lewis or dwarf rats. However, PTH significantly increased cancellous bone volume in both dwarf (P<0.003) and Lewis rats (P<0.0001) when compared to vehicle-treated rats, which was associated with increased trabecular width and decreased trabecular separation. PTH-treated dwarf rats also exhibited 7- and 13-fold increases in mineralizing surface and bone formation rate respectively, compared to vehicle-treated dwarf rats, while PTH-treated Lewis rats showed 3- and 4-fold increases when compared to vehicle-treated Lewis rats. Mineral apposition rate, an index of osteoblast activity, was increased in PTH-treated dwarf rats (P<0.0001) and in Lewis rats (P<0.0001) compared to their respective control groups. The pQCT analyses of the distal femoral metaphysis revealed that cancellous bone structural parameters (total BMC, total BMD, trabecular BMC, and trabecular BMD) also presented significantly higher values in PTH-treated dwarf and Lewis rats, when compared to vehicle treated rats (P<0.0001). When considering cortical bone parameters, almost all the values obtained at the femoral shafts (total BMC, total BMD, cortical BMC, cortical area, cortical thickness, periosteal and endocortical circumferences) did not show any PTH treatment effect in either groups. In conclusion, PTH induced highly significant anabolic effects in vertebral and tibial cancellous bone despite low circulating levels of IGF-I in dwarf rats. The positive response to PTH treatment confirms its therapeutic use as a potent bone anabolic agent, even in the face of GH/IGF-I deficiency

Abstract The atherosclerotic plaques develop with the adhesion of inflammatory cells and lipids onto the innermost layer of the vessel. They may eventually occlude the vessel impairing blood flow. A severe complication is the rupture of a plaque resulting in the formation of a thrombus that can cause myocardial infarction or stroke. Though a large number of risk factors for atherosclerosis have been identified, the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is far from unravelled. The aim of the present work was to study both traditional as well as potential novel risk factors of atherosclerosis. The first study examined the relationship between IGF-I concentrations and carotid artery atherosclerosis and its metabolic risk factors. Low IGF-I concentrations were associated with several cardiovascular risk factors. A positive association was observed between IGF-I concentrations and carotid artery intima-media thickness in women. The results suggest that IGF-I may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Interestingly, the effect may manifest differentially in men and women. The second study focused upon the effects of obesity and weight loss on liver gene expression. A global decrease in gene expression was observed. The down-regulated genes included genes involved in the ubiquitin cycle, which may point to a reduction in oxidative stress due to the hypocaloric diet. The down-regulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma cofactor 1 alpha (PGC-1α) may be related to improved insulin sensitivity. Several novel genes not previously linked to obesity and weight loss were also discovered. In the third and fourth studies, the developmental origins of atherosclerosis hypothesis was studied in a rat model of fetal undernutrition. Unfavourable changes in the obesity-related peptide hormones adiponectin and resistin were observed which could predispose to insulin resistance in later life. In addition, total cholesterol levels were elevated in the undernourished offspring. The gene expression changes in the rat pups suggest that the development of pancreas was affected, which might further contribute to disturbances in insulin and glucose metabolism. / Tiivistelmä Ateroskleroosi eli valtimonkovettumatauti on sairaus, joka saa alkunsa verisuonen sisäseinämään kiinnittyvistä tulehdussoluista ja veren rasvapartikkeleista, joista muodostuu pitkän ajan kuluessa ateroskleroottisia plakkeja. Plakit voivat kasvaessaan heikentää veren virtausta valtimoissa ja pahimmillaan jopa tukkia suonen kokonaan. Mikäli plakki repeää, voi muodostua verihyytymä joka sydämessä aiheuttaa sydäninfarktin ja aivoissa aivoinfarktin. Vaikka useita ateroskleroosille altistavia tekijöitä tunnetaan, taudin syntymekanismit ovat vielä suurelta osin selvittämättä. Tämän väitöskirjatyön tarkoituksena oli tutkia sekä ateroskleroosin perinteisiä että mahdollisia uusia riskitekijöitä. Ensimmäisessä osatyössä tutkittiin insuliininkaltaisen kasvutekijä I:n (IGF-I) yhteyttä kaulavaltimon ateroskleroosiin sekä perinteisiin ateroskleroosin riskitekijöihin. Matalat IGF-I pitoisuudet liittyivät moniin ateroskleroosin riskitekijöihin. Naisissa korkeammat IGF-I pitoisuudet kuitenkin yhdistyivät paksumpaan kaulavaltimoon, mikä viittaa ateroskleroosiin. Tulosten perusteella IGF-I saattaa liittyä ateroskleroosin kehitykseen ja mahdollisesti sen vaikutukset ilmenevät naisissa ja miehissa eri tavoin. Toisessa osatyössä tutkittiin maksan geenien ilmentymistä lihavuudessa ja laihdutusjakson jälkeen. Laihduttaneessa ryhmässä 142:n geenin ilmentyminen oli vähentynyt ja vain yhden lisääntynyt suhteessa kontrolliryhmään. Ubikitiini-syklin geenien ilmentymisen väheneminen voi viitata vähentyneeseen oksidatiiviseen stressiin elimistössä dieetin seurauksena. Muun muassa diabetekseen liittyvän geenin, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma cofactor 1 alpha, väheneminen puolestaan voi liittyä parantuneeseen insuliiniherkkyyteen laihduttaneissa. Lisäksi tässä työssä tuli esiin monia uusia, mielenkiintoisia geenejä, joita ei aiemmin ole yhdistetty lihavuuteen tai ateroskleroosiin. Kolmannessa ja neljännessä osatyössä selvitettiin ns. Barkerin hypoteesia, eli sitä, voisiko sairastumisalttius määräytyä jo sikiökauden ja varhaiskehityksen aikana. Rottakokeemme osoittivat, että sikiöaikaisen aliravitsemuksen seurauksena kolesteroliarvot olivat korkeammat ja että lihavuuteen liittyvien peptidihormonien, adiponektiinin ja resistiinin, pitoisuuksissa oli tapahtunut epäsuotuisia muutoksia, jotka voivat altistaa insuliiniresistenssille Tulokset viittasivat myös siihen, että aliravitsemus oli mahdollisesti vaikuttanut haiman kehitykseen, mikä voi myös osaltaan vaikuttaa mm. insuliini- ja sokeriaineenvaihduntaan. Tämänkaltaiset muutokset saattavat altistaa ateroskleroosille myöhemmällä iällä.

O hormônio da paratireóide (PTH) tem sido utilizado como um agente anabólico ósseo para o tratamento de condições de osteopenia / osteoporose, prevenção e consolidação de fraturas. O papel do fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina I (IGF-I), como um potencial mediador dos efeitos anabólicos do PTH, é controverso. O rato dwarf pode ser adequado para o estudo dessas interações in vivo, uma vez que a os níveis séricos de hormônio do crescimento (GH) encontram-se reduzidos a cerca de 6% dos valores normais em fêmeas e os níveis séricos de IGF-I, a cerca de 10% dos valores normais, mas estes animais são saudáveis e sem malformações esqueléticas. Os objetivos deste estudo foram: 1 - Avaliar o rato dwarf (dw-/dw-) como um modelo animal para o estudo dos efeitos da deficiência do GH e do IGF-I sobre o esqueleto e o metabolismo ósseo; 2 - Comparar os efeitos do tratamento com PTH sobre o esqueleto e formação óssea em ratos dwarf e em ratos Lewis, sua linhagem de origem. A partir de 9 semanas de idade, ratas Lewis e dwarf receberam injeções por via subcutânea, diariamente, por duas semanas, com medicamento placebo ou fragmento de hormônio paratireóideo humano, hPTH 1-34, na dose de 50 g / kg de peso corpóreo (N = 7-13/grupo). Foram realizadas avaliações do peso corpóreo semanalmente e, por ocasião da eutanásia, na 11ª semana, foram coletadas amostras de sangue para realização de dosagens séricas de IGF-I (ELISA). As vértebras lombares e as metáfises proximais das tíbias foram avaliadas por meio de histomorfometria óssea. Os fêmures direitos foram mensurados e analisados por tomografia quantitativa periférica computadorizada (pQCT). Os níveis séricos de IGF-I mostraram-se três vezes menores nas ratas dwarf quando comparados aos observados nas ratas Lewis, a despeito do tratamento com PTH, que não provocou aumento de IGF-I em nenhum dos dois grupos. No entanto, o PTH aumentou significativamente o volume ósseo trabecular em ambos os grupos, dwarf (p<0.003) e Lewis (p < 0.0001) comparados aos seus respectivos grupos controle, efeito associado ao aumento da espessura e da distância trabeculares. As ratas dwarf tratadas com PTH também exibiram aumentos de 7 a 13 vezes na superfície de mineralização e na taxa de formação óssea respectivamente, quando comparadas às ratas dwarf tratadas com placebo, enquanto as ratas Lewis tratadas com PTH mostraram aumentos de 3 e 4 vezes quando comparadas as ratas Lewis tratadas com placebo. A taxa de aposição mineral, indicativa de atividade osteoblástica, estava aumentada nas ratas dwarf e Lewis tratadas com PTH (p<0.0001) comparadas aos seus respectivos grupos controle. As análises pela pQCT das metáfises femorais distais revelaram que todos os parâmetros estruturais do osso trabecular (BMC total, BMD total, BMC trabecular e BMD trabecular) também apresentaram valores significativamente aumentados nas ratas, Lewis e dwarf, tratadas com PTH, quando comparadas às ratas tratadas com placebo (p<0.0001). Ao se considerar os parâmetros para o osso cortical, praticamente todos os valores obtidos nas diáfises femorais (BMC total, BMD total, BMC cortical, BMD cortical, área cortical, espessura cortical, circunferência periosteal e endosteal) não mostraram qualquer efeito do tratamento com PTH nos dois grupos. Em conclusão, o PTH induziu efeitos anabólicos altamente significativos no tecido ósseo trabecular das tíbias e vértebras lombares, a despeito dos baixos níveis circulantes de IGF-I em animais da linhagem dwarf. A resposta positiva ao tratamento com PTH confirma a sua utilização terapêutica como potente agente anabólico ósseo mesmo em face à deficiência no eixo GH/IGF-I / The parathyroid hormone (PTH) has been used as a bone anabolic agent to treat osteopenic/osteoporotic conditions, prevention and healing of fractures. The role of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) as a potential mediator for the bone anabolic effects of PTH is controversial. The dwarf rat (dw-/dw-) may be suitable to study these interactions in vivo, since GH synthesis is selectively reduced to about 6% of normal in females, and serum IGF-I levels are about 10% of normal, but these animals are healthy without skeletal malformations. The objectives of this study were: 1- Evaluate the dwarf rat (dw-/dw-) as an animal model for studies of the effects of GH and IGF-I deficiency on the skeleton and bone metabolism; 2- Compare the skeletal effects of PTH treatment in dwarf rats and their background strain, Lewis rats. At 9 weeks of age, female Lewis and dwarf rats were injected SC daily for 2 weeks with vehicle or human parathyroid hormone fragment, hPTH 1-34, at a dose of 50 g/kg body weight (N=7- 13/group). The body weight was evaluated weekly and at the time of euthanasia, at 11 weeks, blood samples were collected. Serum IGF-I was measured by ELISA, and cancellous bone histomorphometry was performed in the lumbar vertebral body and tibial proximal metaphysis. The right femurs were measured, scanned and analyzed by peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT). Serum levels of IGF-I were nearly 3-fold lower in dwarf rats compared with Lewis rats regardless of treatment, but PTH treatment did not increase serum IGF-I in either Lewis or dwarf rats. However, PTH significantly increased cancellous bone volume in both dwarf (P<0.003) and Lewis rats (P<0.0001) when compared to vehicle-treated rats, which was associated with increased trabecular width and decreased trabecular separation. PTH-treated dwarf rats also exhibited 7- and 13-fold increases in mineralizing surface and bone formation rate respectively, compared to vehicle-treated dwarf rats, while PTH-treated Lewis rats showed 3- and 4-fold increases when compared to vehicle-treated Lewis rats. Mineral apposition rate, an index of osteoblast activity, was increased in PTH-treated dwarf rats (P<0.0001) and in Lewis rats (P<0.0001) compared to their respective control groups. The pQCT analyses of the distal femoral metaphysis revealed that cancellous bone structural parameters (total BMC, total BMD, trabecular BMC, and trabecular BMD) also presented significantly higher values in PTH-treated dwarf and Lewis rats, when compared to vehicle treated rats (P<0.0001). When considering cortical bone parameters, almost all the values obtained at the femoral shafts (total BMC, total BMD, cortical BMC, cortical area, cortical thickness, periosteal and endocortical circumferences) did not show any PTH treatment effect in either groups. In conclusion, PTH induced highly significant anabolic effects in vertebral and tibial cancellous bone despite low circulating levels of IGF-I in dwarf rats. The positive response to PTH treatment confirms its therapeutic use as a potent bone anabolic agent, even in the face of GH/IGF-I deficiency