Abstract
C-AMP causes release of growth hormone from the pituitary. Prostaglandin increases pituitary adenylate cyclase and C-AMP and therefore acts like a growth hormone-releasing hormone. Using PGE2 (30 microgram per kilo body weight) given intravenously we have demonstrated that in no case was there a growth hormone response to insulin hypoglycaemia when PGE2 failed to evoke a response. However in 6 of 18 patients unresponsive to insulin hypoglycaemia a significant rise in growth hormone was obtained from PGE2. We argue that in these 6 patients hypothalamic unresponsiveness to hypoglycaemia must be operative whereas PGE2 acting directly at pituitary level is likely to have caused the release of preformed growth hormone from the pituitary. Administration of PGE2 does not cause hypoglycaemia but rather a slight rise in the plasma glucose level. Thus the risk of brain damage which is inherent in the insulin hypoglycaemia test is avoided.
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