In rats, raising IGF‑I levels (like what sermorelin does) increased kidney filtration and glomerular size, while lowering IGF‑I reduced filtration. This suggests that boosting IGF‑I can affect kidney function, which matters for long‑term health, but the effects were modest and studied only in animals.

This study examined whether maneuvers that chronically raise or lower serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), within physiological and pathophysiological ranges, will affect glomerular hemodynamics. Pair-fed Munich Wistar rats received, for 6 to 7 days, continuous s.c. infusions of human recombinant IGF-I (rhIGF-I; 125 micrograms/day), vehicle, or s.c. injection of a synthetic growth hormone-releasing hormone antagonist (GHRH-ANT) (N = 7 in each group). Infusion of rhIGF-I raised serum IGF-I to about 180% of control values, and GHRH-ANT injections lowered serum IGF-I to about 33% of control. The IGF-I infusion induced an increase in left kidney weight when expressed in absolute units but not when expressed as a percentage of body weight; there was also an increase in glomerular volume in the IGF-I treated rats. GFR, single nephron GFR, and single nephron plasma flow also rose with IGF-I infusion, and these changes were associated with decreased afferent and efferent arteriolar resistance and increased glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient. GHRH-ANT injection did not affect kidney weight or glomerular volume; however, GFR, single nephron GFR, and single nephron plasma flow were reduced in association with an increase in efferent arteriolar resistance. There also was a tendency, not significant, for the glomerular ultrafiltration coefficient to decrease. The findings that a low dose of rhIGF-I, which raised the serum IGF-I only modestly, increased glomerular ultrafiltration and that reducing serum IGF-I below control values decreased glomerular dynamics suggest that physiological or pathophysiological changes in IGF-I may affect and possible help to regulate glomerular function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)