Hepatic reduction of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF binding protein-3 that results from fasting is not attenuated in genetically obese rats

Fasting or caloric restriction causes substantial reductions in serum IGF-I in normal weight humans and animals, and reductions of liver IGF-I and IGFBP-3 mRNAs in animals. Obese humans, however, have attenuated and delayed decrements in IGF-I in serum when subjected to caloric restriction. Obese Zucker rats show a clear tendency to preserve body protein during fasting. To determine whether obesity opposes the effects of fasting on IGF-I and IGFBP-3, and thereby contributes to preservation of lean tissue, we have examined the effect of 72 h of fasting on IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in lean and obese Zucker rats. We observe that between lean and obese animals, fasting for 72 h produces similar decrements in body weight, serum IGF-I, liver IGF-I mRNA, serum IGFBP-3 and liver IGFBP-3 mRNA. Our finding that the reduction of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 in liver that results from 72 h of fasting is not attenuated in obese Zucker rats raises the possibility that conservation of lean tissue in these animals during fasting is not related to the hepatic production of IGF-I and IGFBP-3.