Abstract
Basal plasma GHRH levels were determined by RIA, as previously described, (Donnadieu, JCEM 6O:1132, 1985) after an overnight fast in 93 normal boys and 87 normal girls aged 8 to 18 years. Sixteen boys with idiopathic delayed puberty (IDP) were also studied. Plasma GHRH levels increased above prepubertal values during the teenage years. At mid-puberty GHRH levels in girls (mean ± SEM) were 159.1 ± 28.5 pg/ml, 5 fold the prepubertal values (30.0 ± 4.3), and in boys 101.4 ± 11.5 pg/ml, 2 fold the prepubertal values (48.1 ± 5.2). Basal GHRH levels of boys with IDP were significantly lower (20.5 ± 5.2 pg/ml). In addition, boys with IDP presented a failure of response of plasma GHRH after L-Dopa stimulation. The sharp rise of plasma GHRH levels during puberty in both sexes suggests a role fcr this peptide in the adolescent growth spurt. The low basal GHRH levels and its impaired release after L-Dopa stimulation in IDP suggest a possible hypothalamic dysfunction in this syndrome.
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Argente, J., Brion, D., Garnier, P. et al. RELATIONSHIP OF PLASMA GROWTH HORMONE RELEASING HORMONE (GHRH) LEVELS TO PUBERTAL CHANGES. Pediatr Res 20, 1188 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00089
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00089
