Serum IGF-I levels and IGF-I gene splicing in muscle of healthy young males receiving rhGH.

Objective: Elevated growth hormone (GH) levels lead to increased circulating insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), but the effects on localised muscle IGF-I splice variant expression is not known. The effects of rhGH administration, with or without an acute bout of high resistance exercise, were measured on serum IGF-I and on the mRNA levels of IGF-I splice variants in the vastus lateralis muscle of healthy young men.

Design: The study was a randomised double blind trial with a crossover design.

Delivery of testosterone replacement therapy.

Optimal testosterone replacement therapy remains a considerable challenge for the estimated five out of 1000 men in the general community with androgen deficiency. Oral delivery is not possible due to rapid first pass metabolism and short half-life. Testosterone derivatives have been developed to enhance intrinsic androgenic potency, prolong duration of action, or improve oral bioavailability of synthetic androgens.