GROWTH HORMONE RELEASE FOLLOWING ADMINISTRATION OF GROWTH HORMONE RELEASING FACTOR TO GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENT AND NORMAL MALES

Abstract

We have studied 4 males with idiopathic growth hormone (hGH) deficiency and 8 normal adult males comparing their responses to a 100 μg bolus infusion of the 44 amino acid synthetic growth hormone releasing factor (GRF-44). Responses were compared for changes in hGH, prolactin (PRL), insulin (I), glucagon (G) and glucose (Glu) concentration over a 2-hour period after injection of GRF-44. hGH deficiency was initially documented using standard testing procedures. No patient had received hGH replacement for at least one month prior to testing.

The hGH deficient patients had a significant (p<0.05) GRF-induced increase in hGH concentration from a baseline of 2.7±0.7 ng/ml (M±SEM) to a peak of 10.3±3.2 ng/ml. The normal males showed a much greater (p<0.005) change in hGH levels with a peak response of 46.0±5.8 ng/ml from a baseline of 2.98±0.1 ng/ml. There were no changes in PRL, Glu, I or G in either group.

We have demonstrated that patients with subnormal hGH responses to traditional stimuli can generate hGH levels in the normal range (>7 ng/ml) following GRF stimulation. The mean increase of the hGH deficient group, however, was only 22% of the mean increase of the group of normal male controls. This confirms that patients with idiopathic hGH deficiency may have hGH release, though it is subnormal, following single bolus GRF-44 testing.

Log in or create a free account to read this content

Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com

Access through your institution

or

Sign in or create an account

Continue with Google

Continue with ORCiD