Manipulation of muscle mass via the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis

Project Title: Manipulation of muscle mass via the growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor axis

Researchers: G. Goldspink, S. Harridge, P. Bouloux (Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College, London, UK), R. Bottinelli (Universita degli Studi di Pavia, Roma, Italy)

Year accepted: 2002

Summary: The group at the Royal Free and UCL medical have presented results in relation to hGH doping that show:

1. Two weeks after hGH administration of young untrained and trained adult male subjects results in markedly increased serum levels of IGF-I

2. Two weeks after hGH administration PIIIP levels remain elevated longer after cessation hGH administration longer than IGF-I.

3. A single bout of exercise intensive raining does not affect IGF-I expression in thigh muscles. Hence it cannot be claimed that the elevated levels in 1 and 2 are due to exercise.

4. In addition to validating the use of IGF-I and PIIIR as markers, two further approaches to detecting hGh and IGF-I abuse have been pursued.