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Query: UMLS:C0432222 (SEM)
47,337 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

This study was designed to further investigate our postulate regarding the inhibitory role played by central alpha 2-adrenergic pathways on hypothalamic somatostatin (SS) release in rats. The growth hormone (GH) responses to exogenous GH-releasing factor (GRF; 3 micrograms/kg i.v.) or clonidine (CLO; 100 micrograms/kg i.v.), either given alone or in combination, were tested in 3-month-old male rats made GH-releasing hormone (GH-RH) deficient neonatally by administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG; 4 mg/g body weight s.c.). To prevent the presumable decrease in the pituitary GH content in these animals from leading to an erroneous interpretation of the results obtained, half of these rats were given GRF (MSG-GRF rats; 30 micrograms/kg s.c.) for 3 days immediately prior to GH testing. The other half of MSG-treated and non MSG-treated rats received saline during these days (MSG-S and controls, respectively). To establish the efficiency of GRF priming, the pituitary GH content was measured in other MSG-GRF, MSG-S, and control animals. The mean (+/- SEM) GH peaks in response to GRF challenge were significantly higher in controls than in MSG-GRF rats (125.2 +/- 28.5 vs. 67.5 +/- 19.4 micrograms/l; p < 0.05), while no significant GRF-induced GH release was observed in the MSG-S group. Most likely these results are related to the different pituitary GH content, significantly (p < 0.01) higher in controls than in MSG-GRF rats, and in the latter higher than in MSG-S animals (p < 0.05). CLO administration did not evoke a significant GH release in MSG rats, whether primed with GRF or not.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Clonidine potentiates the growth hormone response to a growth hormone releasing hormone challenge in hypothalamic growth hormone releasing hormone deficient rats. 761 33

Obesity is associated with an impairment of normal GH secretion and blunted responses to all stimuli. Recent reports suggest that increased somatostatinergic activity is the basis for the GH derangement of obesity. However, the basic mechanism of this alteration is still being debated. The high plasma free fatty acid (FFA) is frequently observed in obesity. FFA participates in the regulation of pituitary GH secretion. To determine whether the derangement of GH secretion in obesity is associated with high plasma FFA levels, several tests with GHRH with or without pyridostigmine (PYR) and acipimox (ACX), antilipolytic agents able to decrease FFA, were undertaken in six obese and seven normal control subjects. In obese subjects, the GH response (mean peak +/- SEM: 8.9 +/- 1.1 ug/L) to GHRH-(1-29) (1 ug/kg, i.v.) was significantly blunted when compared with the response in normal control subjects (25.7 +/- 1.8 ug/L; P < 0.05). After PYR (120 mg), the response to GHRH was enhanced in the obese subjects (21.4 +/- 4.9 ug/L; P < 0.05) and was similar to that of the controls with GHRH only, but remained significantly reduced compared with controls treated with PYR plus GHRH (43.2 +/- 6.0 ug/L; P < 0.05). Basal FFA levels were higher than those of normal controls (P < 0.05). ACX (500 mg) decreased FFA levels in both obese and normal subjects; the lowest FFA levels of obese subjects at 15 min were similar to those of normal controls. ACX also potentiated GHRH-stimulated GH response in both obese and normal subjects. The GH responses potentiated by ACX in obesity (22.7 +/- 5.5 ug/L) were similar to those of PYR plus GHRH in obese subjects and GHRH in normal controls, but they were lower than those of control treated with ACX plus GHRH (50.8 +/- 6.7 ug/L; P < 0.05). After the combined pretreatment with ACX and PYR, GH responses in obesity (44.1 +/- 6.0 ug/L) were significantly higher than those in GHRH test, PYR plus GHRH, and ACX plus GHRH in obese subjects (P < 0.05), and they were similar to PYR plus GHRH or ACX plus GHRH in normal controls. However their enhanced GH responses were reduced compared with the control with ACX plus PYR plus GHRH (64.9 +/- 4.5 ug/L; P < 0.05). Our results are in agreement with the hypothalamic hypothesis: an increase in somatostatinergic tone is responsible for the blunted GH response to GHRH in obesity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Acipimox potentiates growth hormone (GH) response to GH-releasing hormone with or without pyridostigmine by lowering serum free fatty acid in normal and obese subjects. 762 49

The aim of this study was to investigate whether central alpha 2-adrenergic pathways act, in rats, by inhibiting somatostatin (SS) release, as it has been postulated to occur in other species. The growth hormone (GH) responses to GH-releasing hormone (GRF, 3 micrograms/kg i.v.) or clonidine (CLO, 100 micrograms/kg, i.v.), either given alone or in combination, were tested in male rats in which norepinephrine synthesis had been previously blocked with the dopamine-beta-hydroxylase inhibitor diethyldithio-carbamate (DDTC, 400 mg/kg i.p.). These experiments were also carried out in a control group of animals that had been given placebo (P) instead of DDTC. The GH responses to GRF in the presence of anti-SS serum given to other P and DDTC rats, allowed us to assess whether DDTC treatment had induced increased SS secretion. GH tests were carried out during spontaneous (P) or pharmacologically induced (DDTC) trough periods. Therefore, the mean (+/- SEM) GRF-induced GH peak was similarly low in both groups of rats (P: 66.5 +/- 16.6 micrograms/l; DDTC: 58 +/- 14 micrograms/l). The administration of anti-SS serum significantly (p < 0.01) increased these responses (P: 413 +/- 22; DDTC: 695 +/- 36; p < 0.01 vs. P). CLO administration elicited a maximal GH peak significantly higher (p < 0.05) in P (20.5 +/- 3) than in DDTC rats (4.1 +/- 2); however, the former was significantly lower than GH responses to GRF.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Clonidine potentiates the growth hormone (GH) response to GH-releasing hormone in norepinephrine synthesis-inhibited rats: evidence for an alpha-2-adrenergic control of hypothalamic release of somatostatin. 790 87

Basal and stimulated growth hormone (GH) secretions are impaired in obesity, and partial restoration of the GH response to various stimuli is observed after weight loss. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether D-fenfluramine, a serotoninergic agent, would increase the GH response to growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) as compared with placebo in obese android patients. The subjects were 17 patients with android obesity (four men and 13 women) aged 21 to 58 years with a body mass index (BMI) ranging from 32.0 to 52.2 kg/m2 and an abdominal-gluteal ratio greater than 1.0. The following four GRF (1-44) tests were performed: T-30 (control), T0 (after 30 days of a hypocaloric diet), T1 (after 30 days of either placebo or D-fenfluramine 15 mg twice daily), and T2 (after 30 additional days of placebo or D-fenfluramine). The hypocaloric diet was maintained during the T1 and T2 periods. At each test, the serum GH response to GRF was measured at frequent intervals, and the peak GH response and the GH area under the curve were calculated. Serum insulin concentrations were also assayed before GRF stimulation, and the insulin to GH ratio was obtained. The D-fenfluramine-treated group had a mean +/- SEM GH peak level after GRF significantly higher at T1 (43.3 +/- 8.2 micrograms/L) and T2 (50.9 +/- 9.2 micrograms/L) compared with the placebo group. Likewise, the mean integrated areas of GH response were significantly higher for the D-fenfluramine-treated group as compared with the placebo group at both T1 and T2 of therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:The effect of hypocaloric diet with and without D-fenfluramine treatment on growth hormone release after growth hormone-releasing factor stimulation in patients with android obesity. 805 54

We evaluated the GH-releasing activity of hexarelin, a new synthetic hexapeptide, after i.v. (1 and 2 micrograms/kg), sc (1.5 and 3 micrograms/kg), intranasal (20 micrograms/kg), and oral (po; 20 and 40 mg) administration to 12 healthy young volunteers. Reference treatments were i.v. saline and GH-releasing hormone (GHRH; 1 microgram/kg). GH release (mean +/- SEM) after the i.v. dose of 1 microgram/kg hexarelin [area under the curve (AUC), 3175 +/- 506 micrograms/min.L] was about 2 times higher than that induced by 1 microgram/kg GHRH (AUC, 1544 +/- 161 micrograms/min.L; P < 0.001). Hexarelin (2 micrograms/kg, i.v.) elicited a further increase in GH levels (AUC, 4422 +/- 626 micrograms/min.L) compared to the 1 microgram/kg dose. The GH response to 2 micrograms/kg hexarelin, i.v., was very reproducible (AUC, 4016 +/- 563 vs. 3959 +/- 803 micrograms/min.L). The sc administration of hexarelin produced a dose-dependent GH response (AUC, 3180 +/- 392 and 4459 +/- 566 micrograms.min.L with 1.5 and 3 micrograms/kg, respectively). Intranasal administration of 20 micrograms/kg hexarelin induced GH release (AUC, 2642 +/- 452 micrograms/min.L) similar to that caused by 1 microgram/kg, i.v. Twenty and 40 mg hexarelin, po, produced a dose-related increase in GH levels (AUC, 2278 +/- 442 and 4079 +/- 514 micrograms/min.L). Biological bioavailabilities were 77.0 +/- 10.5%, 4.8 +/- 0.9%, and 0.3 +/- 0.1% for the sc, intranasal, and po routes, respectively. This study shows that the GH response to hexarelin administered by the i.v. route has a limited variability and is superior to the response to GHRH. The GH-releasing activity appeared to be dose dependent. Thus, hexarelin could be clinically useful to stimulate GH secretion in humans.
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PMID:Growth hormone-releasing activity of hexarelin, a new synthetic hexapeptide, after intravenous, subcutaneous, intranasal, and oral administration in man. 812 44

The effect of pyridostigmine (60 mg orally), arginine (0.5 g/kg iv) and propranolol (PROP, 40 mg orally) on GHRH (1 microgram/kg iv)-induced GH release was studied in seven short children. Pyridostigmine and arginine induced a similar potentiating effect on GHRH-induced GH rise (Peak, mean +/- SEM: 56.9 +/- 12.8 and 48.6 +/- 8.5 micrograms/L, respectively vs 12.3 +/- 1.6 micrograms/L; p < 0.05). Combination of GHRH with propranolol induced an increase of GH that was significant only with regard to peak (28.9 +/- 8.4 micrograms/L) but not to AUC. However, GH rises observed after GHRH combined with PD or ARG did not significantly differ from that recorded after coadministration of GHRH and PROP both for peak and AUC. Our results confirm that pyridostigmine and arginine have a striking potentiating effect on the GHRH-induced GH rise in children and show that the tests with GHRH + PD and GH + H + ARG are ore reliable than that with GHRH + PROP to explore the secretory capacity of somatotroph cells.
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PMID:Comparison of the potentiating effect of pyridostigmine, arginine and propranolol on the GHRH-induced GH release in short children. 831 97

Cholinergic agonists are known to potentiate GHRH-induced GH secretion, probably acting via inhibition of hypothalamic somatostatin release. Their effect is reduced in aging and in patients with Alzheimer's disease. This may be the consequence of age-related cholinergic impairment, which, in turn, could cause somatostatinergic hyperactivity leading to GH hyposecretion. As in Down syndrome (DS) neural alterations have been reported similar to those in aging, including cholinergic impairment, we verified the GH response to GHRH (1 microgram/kg i.v. at 0 min) alone or combined with pyridostigmine (PD), a cholinesterase inhibitor (60 and 120 mg, respectively, in children and adults, orally at -60 min) in 15 DS children (13.5 +/- 0.6 years) and in 11 DS young adults (24.0 +/- 1.2 years). Fifteen normal children (11.9 +/- 0.5 years), 15 normal adults (27.3 +/- 0.9 years) and 16 normal elderly (76.3 +/- 1.5 years) were studied as controls. IGF-I levels showed an age-related reduction both in DS (children vs. adults, mean +/- SEM:354.8 +/- 44.9 vs. 204.4 +/- 29.4 micrograms/l, p < 0.02) and in controls (normal children vs. normal adults vs. normal elderly:281.4 +/- 36.3 vs. 175.4 +/- 11.2 vs. 72.5 +/- 6.6 micrograms/l, p < 0.001). The GH response to GHRH in DS children was higher than in DS adults (areas under curve: 1,197.6 +/- 241.5 vs. 434.4 +/- 83.3 micrograms/l/h, p < 0.01). On the other hand, in normal subjects the GHRH-induced GH rise was similar in children and adults (1,056.2 +/- 128.4 vs. 800.8 +/- 124.5 micrograms/l/h) and both were higher than that in elderly subjects (296.0 +/- 61.0 micrograms/l/h, p < 0.001). PD enhanced the GH response to GHRH both in DS and in normal subjects (p < 0.005). The GH response to PD+GHRH was lower in DS adults than in DS children (1,068.1 +/- 145.7 vs. 1,897.4 +/- 198.8 micrograms/l/h, p < 0.001) as well as in normal elderly subjects with respect to that in normal children and normal adults (832.3 +/- 144.7 vs. 2,172.1 +/- 156.1 and 2,347.6 +/- 322.4 micrograms/l/h, respectively, p < 0.001). The GH response to GHRH alone or combined with PD in DS adults was lower (p < 0.01) than that in normal adults and similar to that in normal elderly subjects. In conclusion, the present data demonstrate that the stimulated GH secretion in DS undergoes an accelerated age-related reduction. They also suggest the existence of a precocious impairment of central cholinergic activity in DS, which, in turn, could cause somatostatinergic hyperactivity and reduced GH secretion.
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PMID:The enhancing effect of pyridostigmine on the GH response to GHRH undergoes an accelerated age-related reduction in Down syndrome. 887 21

Dose-response data for GH-releasing peptides are limited. We studied the effects of varying doses (0-1.0 microgram/kg) of hexarelin, a novel GH-releasing peptide, administered iv to healthy adult males on GH, PRL, and cortisol release. In addition, we studied the effect of administration of a single dose of GHRH-(1-29)-NH2 (1.0 microgram/kg), alone or in combination with a low dose of hexarelin (0.125 microgram/kg). Dose-response curves for the maximum GH response and maximum percent change in serum PRL and cortisol concentrations from baseline were constructed. The GH dose-response curve reached a plateau of 140 mU/L, corresponding to a hexarelin dose of 1.0 microgram/kg, with an ED50 of 0.48 +/- 0.02 microgram/kg (mean +/- SEM). The PRL dose-response curve reached a plateau of 180% for the maximum percent rise from baseline, corresponding to a hexarelin dose of 1.0 microgram/kg, with an ED50 of 0.39 +/- 0.02 microgram/kg. The cortisol dose-response curve showed a step increase to approximately 40% at a hexarelin dose of 0.5 microgram/kg. The coadministration of GHRH-(1-29)-NH2 (1.0 microgram/kg) and low dose hexarelin (0.125 microgram/kg) resulted in massive GH release (115 +/- 32.8 mU/L), a moderate rise in serum PRL (84.9 +/- 27.5%), and no rise in serum cortisol. These data show that iv hexarelin was capable of inducing GH, PRL, and cortisol release in a dose-dependent manner. Low dose hexarelin was synergistic with GHRH and potent for GH release with a minimal effect on other hormones.
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PMID:Hexarelin-induced growth hormone, cortisol, and prolactin release: a dose-response study. 895 38

Prolonged critical illness is characterized by protein hypercatabolism and preservation of fat depots, associated with blunted GH secretion, elevated serum cortisol levels, and low insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations. In this condition, GH is readily released in response to a bolus of GHRH and GH-releasing peptide-2 (GHRP-2) and, paradoxically, to TRH. We further explored the altered somatotropic axis and cortisol secretion in critical illness by examining the effects of continuous GHRH and/or GHRP-2 infusion. Twenty-six critically ill adults (mean age +/- SEM, 63 +/- 2 yr) were studied during 2 consecutive nights (2100-0600 h). According to a weighed randomization, they received one of four combinations of infusions within a randomized cross-over design for each combination: placebo (one night) and GHRP-2 (the other night; n = 10), placebo and GHRH (n = 4), GHRH and GHRP-2 (n = 6), and GHRP-2 and GHRH plus GHRP-2 (n = 6). The peptide infusions (duration, 21 h) were started after a bolus of 1 microgram/kg at 0900 h and infused (1 microgram/kg/h) until 0600 h. Serum concentrations of GH were determined every 20 min, cortisol every hour, and IGF-I at 2100 and 0600 h on each study night. The placebo profiles showed pulsatile GH secretion with low secretory burst amplitude [0.062 +/- 0.008 microgram/L distribution volume (Lv)/min], high burst frequency (6.6 +/- 0.4 events/9 h), and detectable basal secretion (0.041 +/- 0.009 microgram/L/min) in the face of low serum IGF-I (106 +/- 11 micrograms/L). IGF-I correlated positively and significantly with the basal component, the pulsatile component, and the total amount of nightly GH secretion. GHRH elicited a 2- to 3-fold increase in the mean GH concentration (P = 0.006), the GH secretory burst amplitude (P = 0.007), and basal GH secretion (P = 0.03). GHRP-2 provoked a 4- to 6-fold increase in the mean GH concentration (P < 0.0001), the GH secretory burst amplitude (P = 0.002), and basal GH secretion (P = 0.0007), which were associated with a 61 +/- 13% increase in serum IGF-I within 24 h (P = 0.02). Compared to GHRP-2 alone, GHRH plus GHRP-2 elicited a further 2-fold increase in the mean GH concentration (P = 0.04) and GH basal secretion (P = 0.02), and an additional 40 +/- 6% rise in serum IGF-I (P = 0.04). GHRH and GHRP-2 infusion did not alter elevated cortisol levels. In critically ill adults, low serum IGF-I levels were positively correlated with diminished pulsatile and increased basal GH secretion. Both basal and pulsatile GH secretion were moderately increased by continuous infusion of GHRH, substantially increased by GHRP-2, and strikingly increased by GHRH plus GHRP-2. GHRP-2 alone or combined with GHRH elicited a robust rise in circulating IGF-I levels within 24 h without altering serum cortisol levels. These findings open perspectives for GH secretagogues as potential antagonists of the catabolic state in critical care medicine.
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PMID:The somatotropic axis in critical illness: effect of continuous growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone and GH-releasing peptide-2 infusion. 902 60

The role of histamine in the neural control of GH secretion in man is still unclear, although a stimulatory influence has been hypothesized in man. To clarify this point, in 7 normal young women (23-28 yr) in their early follicular phase, we studied the effect of the histaminergic blockade by diphenhydramine (DPH, 80 mg os at -60 min) on the GH response to GHRH (2 micrograms/Hg iv) or Hexarelin (HEX, 2 micrograms/kg iv), a synthetic hexapeptide with strong GH-releasing effect. In 6 of the 7 women the effect of terfenadine (TRF, 120 mg os at -60 min), another H1-receptor antagonist, on the GH response to GHRH or HEX was also studied. As HEX has also PRL- and ACTH-releasing activity and histamine has been shown to have a stimulatory role in the neural control of these hormones, the effects of DPH or TRF on the HEX-induced PRL. ACTH and cortisol release were also studied. GHRH induced a GH rise (peak, mean +/- SEM: 35.4 +/- 6.5 vs 2.5 +/- 1.1 micrograms/l, p < 0.02, n = 7; 34.7 +/- 7.9 vs 3.9 +/- 1.5 micrograms/l, p < 0.02, n = 6) lower (p < 0.05) than that elicited by HEX (49.1 +/- 8.5 vs 3.9 +/- 1.0 micrograms/l, p < 0.01, n = 7; 48.7 +/- 8.9 vs 3.2 +/- 0.8 micrograms/l, p < 0.01, n = 6). DPH inhibited the GH response to both GHRH (AUC: 453.9 +/- 104.7 vs 1223.7 +/- 202.6 micrograms*min/l, p < 0.05) and HEX (922.0 +/- 215.4 vs 1636.4 +/- 267.5 micrograms*min/l, p < 0.05), although the HEX-induced GH rise persisted higher than that induced by GHRH (p < 0.05). TRF did not modify the GHRH-induced GH rise (950.5 +/- 369.2 mg*min/l vs 1115.3 +/- 255.6 micrograms*min/l) as well as the somatotrope responsiveness to HEX (1163.2 +/- 188.7 vs 1427.3 +/- 323.3 mg*min/l). HEX also significantly increased PRL (13.9 +/- 3.1 vs 6.5 +/- 0.8 micrograms/l, p < 0.03), ACTH (31.1 +/- 6.6 vs 16.6 +/- 2.9 pg/ml, p < 0.02) and cortisol (96.6 +/- 6.3 vs 82.2 +/- 6.2 micrograms/L, p < 0.05) levels. PRL, ACTH and cortisol responses to HEX were unaffected by DPH (536.5 +/- 85.6 vs 599.5 +/- 129.2 micrograms*min/l, 1068.5 +/- 306.0 vs 1282.8 +/- 222.0 pg*min/ml and 4277.4 +/- 588.4 vs 4738.3 +/- 355.3 micrograms*min/l, respectively) as well as by TRF (621.3 +/- 110.4 vs 530.3 +/- 131.4 micrograms*min/L, 972.4 +/- 189.6 vs 1060.2 +/- 224.7 pg*min/ml and 6203.8 +/- 1329.5 vs 5141.2 +/- 295.5 micrograms*min/l, respectively). In conclusion, our findings are against the hypothesis of a major role of H1-receptor-mediated histaminergic influence on GH secretion in humans. In fact, the H1-histaminergic blockade by TRF does not affect the GH response to GHRH or HEX; the inhibitory effect of DPH may probably be due to its intrinsic anticholinergic activity. Our data also confirm that Hexarelin releases more GH than GHRH and demonstrate that its effect on GH, PRL and ACTH release is not mediated by H1-receptors.
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PMID:Effects of histaminergic antagonists on the GH-releasing activity of GHRH or hexarelin, a synthetic hexapeptide, in man. 918 17


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