Endogenous Growth Hormone Research Articles

Pregnancy, parturition, and lactation in hypophyseal stalk-transected beef heifers

Progesterone secretion is crucial for maintaining pregnancy to parturition in mammalian species, and in cattle the corpus luteum is the primary source of this hormone. This study determined the roles of prolactin (PRL), growth hormone (GH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in the luteotropic process in beef heifers hypophyseal stalk-transected (HST, n=7) or sham operated (sham operated controls, SOC, n=9) during midgestation. The main finding was that endogenous PRL and GH maintained progesterone secretion in HST heifers in a similar manner to that in SOC throughout pregnancy. Serum PRL averaged 37 vs 187 and GH 2 vs 4 ng/ml in HST heifers compared with SOC, whereas LH abruptly decreased to undetectable levels after HST compared with a modest 0.4 ng/ml in SOC heifers. The second finding was that parturition and lactation occurred in HST heifers with calf delivery induced to occur at the same time as SOC. Milk production in HST animals was severely limited, and postpartum estrus obliterated compared with SOC. The suckling stimulus sustained milk ejection in HST heifers in spite of diminished PRL, GH, thyroid stimulating hormone, thyroxine and tri-iodothyronine secretion. The results suggest that PRL, GH and possibly placental lactogen are luteotropic during pregnancy in cattle.

Interrelationships of spontaneous growth hormone axis activity, body fat, and serum lipids in healthy elderly women and men.

Aging is associated with decreased growth hormone (GH) secretion and plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) levels, increased total and abdominal fat, total and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglycerides, and reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. Similar changes in lipids and body composition occur in nonelderly GH-deficient adults and are reversed with GH administration. To examine whether GH/IGF-I axis function in the elderly is related to the lipid profile independently of body fat, we evaluated GH secretion, serum IGF-I and IGF binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels, adiposity via the body mass index (BMI), waist to hip ratio (WHR), dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and circulating lipids in 101 healthy subjects older than 65 years. Integrated nocturnal GH secretion (log IAUPGH) was inversely related (P < .005) to DEXA total and abdominal fat and MRI visceral fat in both genders. Log IAUPGH was inversely related to visceral fat in women (P < .005) and men (P < .0001), but was not significantly related to total fat in either gender. In women, log IAUPGH was related inversely to total and LDL cholesterol and positively to HDL cholesterol (P < .008). In men, log IAUPGH was inversely related to total cholesterol and triglycerides (P < .005). In women, HDL cholesterol was inversely related to the WHR (P < .005). In men, triglycerides were positively related (P < .001) to the WHR and DEXA abdominal and MRI visceral fat. Multivariate regression revealed log IAUPGH, but not DEXA total body fat, to be an independent determinant of total (P < .001 for women and P = .01 for men) and LDL (P < .007 and P = .05) cholesterol in both sexes and of HDL cholesterol (P < .005) and triglycerides (P < .03) in women. Log IAUPGH, but not DEXA abdominal fat, was related to total (P < .005 and P < .03) and LDL (P < .03 and P = .05) cholesterol in both genders and to HDL in women (P < .05). Log IAUPGH, but not MRI visceral fat, was related to total cholesterol (P < .03 and P = .05) in women and men. Age, IGF-I, and IGFBP-3 were not significantly related to any body fat or lipid measures, except for a positive correlation of IGF-I with triglycerides in men. Thus, endogenous nocturnal GH secretion predicts total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels independently of total or abdominal fat, suggesting that it is an independent cardiometabolic risk factor in healthy elderly people.

Growth hormone and mammary development

Classic studies in rodents conducted in the 1950s showed that growth hormone (GH) is essential for mammary development both in the pubertal phase and during pregnancy. Since then, a considerable number of experiments have been carried out in ruminants to investigate the role of GH for regulation of normal mammary development and to examine the possibility of enhancing mammary growth by administration of GH. The available evidence demonstrates that GH treatment stimulates mammary growth before puberty, but the data do not convincingly support the idea that the effect is translated into increased milk yield. GH treatment during late pregnancy seems to stimulate both mammary growth and milk yield during lactation. The limited data concerning the effect of GH on mammary growth during lactation indicate that mammary growth is unaffected by GH treatment in early lactation, whereas GH seems to increase the amount of mammary parenchyma in mid-lactation. The mechanism of action of GH remains a puzzle, but the effect of exogenous GH most likely involves insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Full understanding of the role of endogenous GH for regulation of normal mammary development requires more knowledge about the interaction between GH and IGF-I and the interplay between the GH-IGF-I axis and locally produced factors, including receptors, binding proteins, and growth factors.

Growth hormone insensitivity: Physiologic and genetic basis, phenotype, and treatment

Primary growth hormone insensitivity is the absence of an appropriate growth or metabolic response to endogenous or exogenous growth hormone at physiologic concentrations, which is due to GH receptor deficiency or defective GH-GHR signal transduction. Numerous catabolic states and chronic conditions may demonstrate acquired GHI, but only that due to growth-inhibiting antibodies developing in patients with GH gene deletion who have been treated with GH has been considered, along with primary GHI, as appropriate for treatment with recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I. This review examines the physiology of the GH-IGF-I axis, noting the importance and varied actions of IGF binding proteins. Also considered is the classification and clinical and biochemical description of the conditions resulting in primary and acquired GHI and their similarity and differences from other IGF-I–deficient states. The molecular heterogeneity of primary GHI and the functional information certain mutations provide is discussed. A diagnostic sequence for these rare conditions is proposed, and the experience with rhIGF-I therapy in GHI is examined.

Growth hormone (GH) status is an independent determinant of serum levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in healthy adults.

Both severe growth hormone (GH) deficiency in hypopituitary adults and physiological ageing are associated with an increase in fat mass, dyslipidaemia, and an increased incidence of cardiovascular disease. Ageing is also associated with a physiological decrease in spontaneous as well as stimulated GH secretion. We wished to evaluate the effects of endogenous GH status on circulating lipoproteins. A cross-sectional study. Forty-two healthy nonobese adults of both sexes (20 M + 22 F) aged 27-59 years. Twenty-four hour GH secretion, arginine-stimulated GH secretion, and fasting values of lipoproteins and triglycerides. Body composition was measured by CT-scan and whole body DXA-scan. VO2-max was measured on an ergometer bicycle. GH secretion decreased with age and was lower in males. Older subjects had more total body fat, subcutaneous abdominal fat, and intra-abdominal fat than younger ones, and their VO2-max was decreased. Men had more intra-abdominal and subcutaneous abdominal fat but less total body fat than women. There was no sex difference in VO2-max. Total cholesterol (TC) and LDL-C (mmol/l) were higher in older than in the younger subjects (TC: 5.32 (95% CI = 0.49) vs. 4. 17 (95% CI = 0.28), P < 0.001; LDL-C: 3.66 (95% CI = 0.52) vs. 2.54 (95% CI = 0.37), P = 0.001) without sex differences. HDL-C did not show any difference with age or between sexes. Triglycerides (mmol/l) were higher in older subjects and in males (older: 1.36 (95% CI = 0.19) vs. younger: 1.02 (95% CI = 0.20), P = 0.015; M: 1. 34 (95% CI = 0.24) vs. F: 1.03 (95% CI = 0.16), P = 0.03). There was no age-difference in lipoprotein (a), but concentrations were higher in women (M: 4.35 (2.95-8.30) vs. F: 19.40 (4.10-32.80), P = 0.03). TC, LDL-C, and triglycerides correlated positively with age and indices of adiposity, and inversely with VO2-max. TC, LDL-C, and triglycerides also correlated significantly and negatively with arginine-stimulated GH secretion (peak GH) (TC vs. peak GH (r = - 0. 395, P = 0.01); LDL-C vs. peak GH (r = - 0.365, P = 0.017); triglycerides vs. peak GH (r = - 0.386, P = 0.01)). Multiple linear regression analysis showed GH status to be an independent predictor of both TC, LDL-C, and triglycerides. We hypothesize that GH may exert direct effects on lipid metabolism.

Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone and Morphine Attenuate Growth Hormone Secretagogue-Induced Activation of the Arcuate Nucleus in the Male Rat

Growth hormone secretagogues (GHS) administered systemically selectively induce growth hormone (GH) release from the pituitary and the expression of Fos protein in arcuate nucleus neurons. Both the control of GH release and the expression of the GHS receptor in the arcuate nucleus are thought to be regulated, at least in part, by the negative feedback actions of GH. In this study, we utilized the immunocytochemical detection of Fos protein to examine the effects of morphine- and GH-releasing hormone (GHRH)-induced GH release on the activation of arcuate nucleus neurons following GHS administration. Given alone, two structurally different GHS induced significant amounts of Fos-LI in the arcuate nucleus of male rats, suggesting activation of cells in this region. Prior administration of morphine or GHRH significantly reduced the number of Fos-positive cells in the arcuate nucleus of rats injected with either GHS, although when given together, morphine and GHRH did not produce a greater reduction in Fos expression than when given alone. In no case was there a complete reduction in Fos expression, indicating that some arcuate nucleus neurons are not subject to the feedback effects of endogenous GH. These results provide evidence that, in the male rat, GH can feedback to the hypothalamus, altering the responsiveness of neurons involved in the central response to GHS.

The effect of growth hormone secretagogues and neuropeptide Y on hypothalamic hormone release from acute rat hypothalamic explants.

Growth hormone (GH) secretagogues (GH-releasing peptides and their non-peptide analogues) stimulate growth hormone release via specific G-protein coupled receptors both directly from the pituitary gland and through stimulation of the hypothalamus. The exact mechanism of action in the hypothalamus is not known. The presence of endogenous GH releasing hormone (GHRH) seems to be necessary for the in-vivo actions of growth hormone secretagogues (GHSs), but data suggest that further factors must be involved as well. The effect of GHSs is not entirely specific for the GH axis; they release prolactin and stimulate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis causing elevations in circulating ACTH and cortisol levels in both animal and human studies. Recently, it has also been suggested that GHSs stimulate hypothalamic neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurones. In the present study, we have therefore investigated the direct effect of several GHSs (GHRP-6, hexarelin and the non-peptide analogues L-692, 429 and L-692, 585) on GHRH, somatostatin (SS), corticotrophin-releasing hormone (CRH) and arginine vasopressin (AVP) release in vitro in an acute rat hypothalamic incubation system. We also assessed the effect of NPY on GHRH, SS and AVP release. Freshly removed hypothalami were incubated in control media for 20 min and then in 1-4 consecutive 20-min periods in each of the test substances at different concentrations. There was no significant change in either the basal or potassium-stimulated release of GHRH or SS at low concentrations of any of the secretagogues; however, at millimolar doses a paradoxical inhibition of GHRH was observed with GHRP-6, hexarelin and L-692 585 (data are expressed as the ratio of treated to preceding basal release; at 20 min control group: 0.97+/-0.02, GHRP-6: 0.55+/-0.04, P<0.001 compared to control group; hexarelin: 0. 56+/-0.06, P<0.001, L-692,585: 0.70+/-0.03, P<0.001), while SS was stimulated after 60 or 80 min (at 80 min control: 0.80+/-0.03, hexarelin: 1.23+/-0.07, P<0.05 and L-692,585: 1.37+/-0.11, P<0.05). GHSs stimulated hypothalamic AVP release (at 20 min control: 0. 99+/-0.06 ratio to basal release, 10-4 M concentration of GHRP-6: 6. 31+/-1, P<0.001, hexarelin: 1.88+/-0.4, P<0.01, L-692,429: 1.90+/-0. 5, P<0.05 and L-692,585: 2.34+/-0.96, P<0.01), while no stimulatory effect was found on CRH release. NPY significantly stimulated SS and inhibited basal and potassium-stimulated GHRH release, while potentiating potassium-evoked AVP secretion. The Y1 receptor antagonist BIBP 3226 did not inhibit the effects of NPY on SS, GHRH or AVP release. We therefore conclude that, in this in-vitro rat hypothalamic incubation model, growth hormone secretagogues stimulate the release of AVP but have no effect on either GHRH, SS or CRH at low doses; at high doses paradoxically they inhibit the hypothalamic GH axis similar to in-vivo data in the rat. We speculate that these effects might be mediated by NPY.

Immune function in transgenic mice overexpressing growth hormone (GH) releasing hormone, GH or GH antagonist.

Effects of life-long exposure to high levels of homologous or heterologous growth hormone (GH) and effects of GH resistance on selected parameters of immune function were studied in adult male transgenic mice overexpressing GH releasing hormone (GHRH), bovine (b) GH or an antagonistic bGH analog. In metallothionein I (MT)-bGH transgenic mice with high peripheral levels of bovine GH, there were significant increases in the absolute weight of the thymus and the spleen and in the mitogenic responses of splenocytes to concanavalin A (ConA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and phytohemagglutinin (PHA), as compared to age-matched normal animals. There were no significant differences between MT-bGH transgenic and normal mice in splenocyte viability or in delayed-type hypersensitivity measured by the allergic contact dermatitis response to oxazolone. Similar results, including significant stimulation of splenocyte responses to ConA, LPS, and PHA, were obtained in MT-hGHRH transgenic mice in which overexpression of GHRH leads to striking pituitary enlargement and massive elevation of peripheral levels of homologous (mouse) GH. In MT-bGH-antagonist transgenic mice in which overexpression of an antagonistic bGH analog interferes with the actions of endogenous GH, spleen weight was reduced but proliferative responses of splenocytes to ConA, LPS, and PHA were not affected. It is concluded that overexpression of heterologous or homologous GH in transgenic mice can lead to significant stimulation of some parameters of immune function, whereas antagonism of GH action by expression of an antagonistic GH analog does not affect splenocyte responses to mitogens.

Study of growth hormone secretion and action in growth-retarded children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA).

The stimulated and spontaneous growth hormone (GH) secretion and the response to GH action were assessed in growth-retarded children with juvenile chronic arthritis (JCA), in order to determine the underlying mechanisms of growth retardation in such children. Six children (4 boys and 2 girls aged 10.7-13.8 years) with active JCA of systemic onset were included in the study which involved: (1) anthropometric measurements; (2) assessment of GH responses to insulin-induced hypoglycaemia and clonidine stimulation; (3) assessment of the nocturnal pulsatile GH secretion by measuring GH in blood samples obtained every 20 min from 20.00 to 08.00 h; and (4) the IGF-I generation test. As a control, the latter test was also performed in eight aged-matched children with physiological delay in puberty. Biosynthetic hGH (0.1 IU/kg BW) was administered s. c. for 4 days and blood samples were taken at baseline and the morning after the last GH injection for measurement of IGF-I and IGFBP-3. All six children with JCA were prepubertal and their growth velocity was <3 cm/year. The GH responses to both stimulation tests were normal (peak GH >20 mU/l). Analysis of the pulsatile GH secretion during the night revealed three-to-four GH pulses of normal amplitude (>20 mU/l). IGF-I (26.7+/-4.6 nmol/l, mean+/-SD) and IGFBP-3 (2.1+/-0.2 mg/l) levels were lower in the patients compared with the controls (43.0+/-3.7 nmol/l and 2.8+/-0.2 mg/l, respectively, P<0.01). Following stimulation with exogenous hGH, there was a significant increase in IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels in the control group (85 and 73%, respectively), but only a small increase in the patients (31 and 14%). It appears that stimulated and spontaneous GH secretion is normal in children with active systemic JCA, but the response to endogenous and exogenous GH with regard to IGF-I and IGFBP-3 production is impaired, indicating a degree of GH insensitivity in such children.

A Unique Effect in Fanconi Anemia: Apparent Decrease of Only Type I Collagen Formation by Increased Amounts of Endogenous Growth Hormone

A Unique Effect in Fanconi Anemia: Apparent Decrease of Only Type I Collagen Formation by Increased Amounts of Endogenous Growth Hormone

A pharmacokinetic model discriminates exogenous and endogenous growth hormone input

A pharmacokinetic model discriminates exogenous and endogenous growth hormone input

Characterization of hepatic cytochrome P450 isozyme composition in the transgenic rat expressing low level human growth hormone

1. The present authors have previously developed a transgenic rat carrying a chimeric gene of the mouse whey acidic protein promoter and the structural portion of human growth hormone (GH) gene. Among this (hGH-TG) rat, a line (low GH rat) missing a male-specific pulsatile GH secretary pattern due to suppression of endogenous GH secretion and having a continuous low GH (hGH and rat GH) level in the peripheral circulation was identified. The latter rat was also characterized as having severe obesity with age. This strain (low Gh rat) was used to correlate the sex-specific secretory pattern of GH with the sex-specific expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) in rat. 2. Comparisons were made between the low GH rat and the non-transgenic rat as to the expression of liver microsomal CYP isozymes. The following enzyme activities were assessed: testosterone (T) hydroxylation and oxidation; ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylation (EROD); bunitrolol (BTL) 4-hydroxylation and T5 alpha-reduction. Protein expression of CYP1A, CYP2C11, CYP2D, CYP2E1, CYP3A2 and CYP4A1 were also assessed by Western blot analysis. 3. Enzyme activities and protein expression of CYP2C11 (T16 alpha and 2alpha-hydroxylase and 17-oxidase activities) and CYP3A2 (T6beta and 2beta-hydroxylase activities) levels, which are known to be higher in the male than in the female rat, were significantly lower in the adult male low GH rat than in the control male rat. In contrast, CYP2A1 (T7 alpha hydroxylase) and T5-alpha-reductase activities, which are known to be specifically elevated in the female, were significantly higher in the adult male low GH rat than in the control male rat. Thus, the loss of male-specific secretory pattern of GH results in feminization of the pattern of expression of CYP and T5 alpha-reductase activity in the liver. 4. In contrast to other GH-deficient models so far studied, an increase in CYP4A1 and a decrease in CYP2E1 protein expression were observed in the low GH rat. These trends are consistent with the characteristic phenotype of obesity in the transgenic rat because CYP4A1 and CYP2E1 enhance fatty acid excretion and glyconeogenesis from fatty acids respectively.

Specific interactions of growth hormone (GH) with GH-receptors and GH-binding proteins in vivo in genetically GH-deficient Ames dwarf mice

The fate of exogenous radiolabeled growth hormone (125I-hGH) was studied in Ames dwarf mice, which do not express growth hormone (GH) or prolactin (PRL) genes. Labeled GH was injected in low amounts that did not exceed the normal physiological GH concentration in mice. Binding of most of the injected 125I-hGH by the GH-binding proteins (GHBPs) present in plasma represents the first step in the handling of this material in vivo. The decay curve followed a two-compartment model and gave the equation: Conc = 2.807e-0067t + 15301e-0.0647t (coefficient of determination 0.9986+/-0.0019), while in normal mice, GH decay followed a three-compartment model as we have previously reported. The fast compartment with t1/2 of 1-2 min was virtually absent in dwarf mice, and chromatographic studies revealed the disappearance of free GH in these mice. We also present evidence of the labeled GH-forming complexes, presumably with GHBPs under in vivo conditions. The second step of processing labeled GH in vivo is the uptake by the liver, which was slower in dwarf than in normal mice (30-45 vs 15 min). Moreover, a lower GH uptake was found in dwarf than in normal mice (UB ratio of 1.75+/-0.29 [30 min] vs L/B ratio of 3.68+/-0.33 [15 min], respectively) due to lower concentration of free GH in plasma and to the reduced number of GH-receptors (GHRs). The radioactive material present in the liver was compatible with 125I-hGH-GHR complexes with Stokes radius of 59A. In summary, we provide evidence that plasma of dwarf mice contains proteins capable of binding GH in vivo and probably representing GHBPs not complexed with GH. The presence of these proteins modified the pharmacokinetics of 125I-hGH in plasma and its subsequent uptake by the liver. The presence of these binding proteins in the absence of endogenous GH suggests that a fraction of total GHBPs (one class?) is independent of GH concentration.

Peak Bone Mass in Young Healthy Men Is Correlated with the Magnitude of Endogenous Growth Hormone Secretion

Peak Bone Mass in Young Healthy Men Is Correlated with the Magnitude of Endogenous Growth Hormone Secretion

Peak bone mass in young healthy men is correlated with the magnitude of endogenous growth hormone secretion.

GH plays a key role during adolescence in longitudinal bone growth and the attainment of peak bone mass. We explored the hypothesis that in early adulthood, bone mineral accretion and/or maintenance in men with normal GH and bone mineral status are related to the magnitude of endogenous GH secretion. Overnight plasma GH concentrations (sampled every 10 min from 2100-0500 h) were measured in 15 healthy, lean, Caucasian men (age, 24+/-1 yr; body mass index, 22.6+/-0.6 kg/m2; mean +/- SE). Total body, femur, and lumbar spine bone mineral mass/density were measured by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Total body and femoral bone mineral mass correlated with both total nocturnal GH and maximal GH concentrations even when bone mineral mass was adjusted by height (P = 0.005-0.02; r = 0.58-0.74). Neither spinal nor total body bone mineral density (BMD) correlated with GH. Maximum GH correlated with the BMD of all four femoral sites (P = 0.01-0.04; r = 0.55-0.66), whereas total nocturnal GH correlated with only one (trochanter; P = 0.01; r = 0.64) femoral site. Our data support the hypothesis that GH continues to play a role in the accretion and/or maintenance of bone mass in young men. This relationship is more evident in the bone mineral mass achieved than in the BMD.

Clinical significance and molecular mechanisms of bioinactive growth hormone (review).

About 80% of short children are not deficient in endogenous growth hormone (GH) and termed idiopathic short stature (ISS). The causes of impaired growth in children with ISS are various. Short stature and low insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentration despite normal to high GH concentration suggest impaired GH effect. The prototypical GH insensitivity syndrome was described and characterized by the absent or defective GH receptors. Growth retardation resulting from biologically inactive GH was also described, but the molecular basis of biologically inactive GH has remained unclear. Recently, two unique point mutations in the GH-1 gene in the children with short stature whose GH were supposed as bioinactive were reported. Mutant GH R77C not only failed to stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation by itself, but it also inhibited the activity of wild-type GH. This mutant GH exerted an antagonistic effect. Another mutant D112G was only bio-inactive. This case was a typical Kowarski syndrome. The molecular heterogeneity of mutant GH reflected clinical phenotype of bioinactive GH syndrome.

Resting metabolic rate in healthy adults: Relation to growth hormone status and leptin levels

Studies in patients with acromegaly and growth hormone (GH) deficiency, and administration of GH in normal and obese subjects and in patients with GH deficiency, suggest that GH increases resting metabolic rate (RMR) independently of changes in body composition. To test whether endogenous GH status determines RMR, we studied 38 healthy adults (18 women and 18 men) in two age groups (young, 30 ± 0 years (n = 18); older, 51 ± 1 years [n = 18]) with indirect calorimetry, deconvolution analysis of 24-hour GH secretion, arginin stimulation test, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) measurement, lean and fat tissue distribution (computed tomography [CT] and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry), assessment of physical fitness (maximal oxygen consumption [Vo 2max]), thyroid status, and serum leptin levels. RMR was higher in men compared with women, whereas RMR per lean body mass (LBM) (kcal × 24 h −1 × kg −1) was higher in women (30.0 ± 0.5 v 33.0 2 3 0.8; P = .003). GH secretion was higher in women and in young people. Total-body fat (TBF) was higher in women, whereas LBM and abdominal fat were higher in men. Older people had significantly more TBF and abdominal fat as compared with younger people. Vo 2max was higher in younger people. Leptin levels were higher in women and in older people. Thyroid status was narrowly within the normal range in all subjects. RMR was strongly correlated with LBM ( r = .90, P < .001). RMR/LBM correlated strongly with TBF ( r = .49, P < .01) and leptin ( r = .56, P < .001), but not with GH status. By multiple regression analysis, sex and TBF were the strongest predictors of RMR/LBM. However, in the young subgroup, GH production rate was a positive determinant of RMR/LBM. In the male subgroup, leptin was a stronger predictor than TBF of RMR/LBM ( P < .001). Neither age, physical fitness, not thyroid status contributed independently to predict RMR/LBM. In conclusion, (1) LBM was the most important determinant of RMR; (2) RMR/LBM was higher in women and depended strongly on TBF; (3) GH status is healthy adults was only weakly associated with RMR; and (4) in men, serum leptin levels were a strong positive determinant of RMR.

Serum insulin but not leptin is associated with spontaneous and growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone—stimulated GH secretion in normal volunteers with and without weight loss

Weight loss in humans is associated with elevated hypothalamic-pituitary growth hormone (GH) secretion. This study evaluates the effects of weight loss on the hypothalamic-pituitary (GH-releasing hormone [GHRH]-GH) axis in 14 normal-weight (body mass index [BMI], 25 ± 1 Kg/m 2) subjects, of whom half had undergone a diet-induced weight loss of 14% ± 2% (mean ± SEM). Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin, oral glucose tolerance, leptin, and GH pulse patterns were determined in both groups after weight maintenance for 1 week. Of note, we tested the effects of recent weight loss (3 months) and not a recent dietary intake, since both groups ingested a normal calorie diet for 2 days in the Clinical Research Center (CRC) prestudy. Serum insulin (3.8 ± 0.7 v 9.0 ± 0.9 μU/mL, P < .01) and C-peptide (0.44 ± 0.06 v 0.59 ± 0.04 mg/mL, P < .05) were significantly lower in the weight loss group. Serum leptin was not different. Endogenous GH pulse height (11.9 ± 4.8 v 1.3 ± 0.1 μg/L, P < .05), area per GH pulse ([AUC] 57 ± 28 v 6 ± 1 μg/L, P < .05), and mean GH (3.91 ± 0.76 v 0.85 ± 0.16 μg/L, P < .01) were increased in the weight loss group. The serum insulin level was inversely associated with the mean GH concentration ( r = −.678, P < .01) and GH pulse height ( r = −7.33, P < .01). In addition to spontaneous GH secretion, the GHRH-stimulated GH pulse height (41.8 ± 18.1 v 7.1 ± 1.6 μg/L, P < .05) and AUC (161 ± 35 v 46 ± 13 μg/L/min, P < .05) were also increased in the weight loss group. The insulin concentration was also inversely correlated with the GHRH-stimulated GH pulse height ( r = −.718, P < .01). The leptin concentration was correlated with the BMI ( r = .554, P < .05) and body fat ( r = .744, P < .01), but not with GH secretion. In summary, even though these patients were on a normal calorie diet, a history of recent weight loss in young men and women of normal weight and health can be associated with a significant increase in spontaneous GH pulse height and GHRH-stimulated pulse height. Weight loss was also associated with a reduced serum insulin level. The observed increase in GH secretion may be secondary to the reduction in insulin or alterations of other factors acting at the site of the pituitary.

Failure of nocturnal changes in growth hormone to alter carbohydrate tolerance the following morning.

To determine whether the increases in growth hormone that occur during sleep alter carbohydrate tolerance the following morning, two groups of volunteers were studied on two occasions. In one group saline alone was injected and infused (i.e. no octreotide) on one occasion and on the other octreotide was injected at 23.00 hours to inhibit endogenous growth hormone secretion followed by saline infusion to create a state of relative nocturnal growth hormone deficiency. In the other group the octreotide injection was followed on one occasion by a constant growth hormone infusion designed to maintain growth hormone concentrations at "basal" levels throughout the night whereas on the other it was followed by a constant infusion plus two supplemental growth hormone infusions given at midnight and 02.30 hours to mimic the normal nocturnal rise in growth hormone. The next morning, subjects were fed a radiolabelled mixed meal. The differences in the nocturnal growth hormone concentrations had no effect on the glucose, insulin, C-peptide and glucagon concentrations following breakfast ingestion nor did they alter postprandial rates of glucose production, disappearance or substrate oxidation. Thus, the normal nocturnal rise in growth hormone does not appear to be an important regulator of carbohydrate tolerance the following morning.

Hypothalamic/Pituitary-Axis of the Spontaneous Dwarf Rat: Autofeedback Regulation of Growth Hormone (GH) Includes Suppression of GH Releasing-Hormone Receptor Messenger Ribonucleic Acid*

In this study, the spontaneous dwarf rat (SDR) has been used to examine GHRH production and action in the selective absence of endogenous GH. This dwarf model is unique in that GH is not produced because of a point mutation in the GH gene. However, other pituitary hormones are not obviously compromised. Examination of the hypothalamic pituitary-axis of SDRs revealed that GHRH messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were increased, whereas somatostatin (SS) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) mRNA levels were decreased, compared with age- and sex-matched normal controls, as determined by Northern blot analysis (n = 5 animals/group; P < 0.05). The elevated levels of GHRH mRNA in the SDR hypothalamus were accompanied by a 56% increase in pituitary GHRH receptor (GHRH-R) mRNA, as determined by RT-PCR (P < 0.05). To investigate whether the up-regulation of GHRH-R mRNA resulted in an increase in GHRH-R function, SDR and control pituitary cell cultures were challenged with GHRH (0.001-10 nM; 15 min), and intracellular cAMP concentrations were measured by RIA. Interestingly, SDR pituitary cells were hyperresponsive to 1 and 10 nM GHRH, which induced a rise in intracellular cAMP concentrations 50% greater than that observed in control cultures (n = 3 separate experiments; P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). Replacement of GH, by osmotic minipump (10 microg/h for 72 h), resulted in the suppression of GHRH mRNA levels (P < 0.01), whereas SS and NPY mRNA levels were increased (P < 0.05), compared with vehicle-treated controls (n = 5 animals/treatment group). Consonant with the fall in hypothalamic GHRH mRNA was a decrease in pituitary GHRH-R mRNA levels. Although replacement of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), by osmotic pump (5 microg/h for 72 h), resulted in a rise in circulating IGF-I concentrations comparable with that observed after GH replacement, IGF-I treatment was ineffective in modulating GHRH, SS, or NPY mRNA levels. However, IGF-I treatment did reduce pituitary GHRH-R mRNA levels, compared with vehicle-treated controls (P < 0.05). These results further validate the role of GH as a negative regulator of hypothalamic GHRH expression, and they suggest that SS and NPY act as intermediaries in GH-induced suppression of hypothalamic GHRH synthesis. These data also demonstrate that increases in circulating IGF-I are not responsible for changes in hypothalamic function observed after GH treatment. Finally, this report establishes modulation of GHRH-R synthesis as a component of GH autofeedback regulation.