Arginine abolishes the inhibitory effect of glucose on the growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing hormone in man

E. Ghigo, C. Miola, G. Aimaretti, F. Valente, M. Procopio, E. Arvat, W. Yin-Zhang, F. Camanni

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Acute hyperglycemia inhibits the growth hormone (GH) response to several stimuli including growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), likely acting by stimulation of endogenous somatostatin release. The aim of our study was to verify whether arginine ([Arg] 30 g intravenously [IV] in 30 minutes), a well-known GH secretagogue likely acting via inhibition of hypothalamic somatostatin release, counteracts the inhibitory effect of oral glucose (OG) administration (100 mg orally) on the GH response to GHRH (1 μg/kg IV bolus) in seven normal subjects (aged 20 to 30 years). The GH response to GHRH (peak, 11.6 ± 1.8 μg/L) was inhibited by previous OG load (peak, 7.4 ± 0.8 μg/L; P < .02 v GHRH alone) and potentiated by Arg coadministration (peak, 36.2 ± 8.8 μg/L; P < .03 v GHRH alone). The potentiating effect of Arg on the GHRH-induced GH increase was unaffected by previous OG load (peak, 30.4 ± 6.9 μg/L). In conclusion, our results show that Arg abolishes the inhibitory effect of OG administration on the GHRH-induced GH response in man. These data, although indirect, suggest that both acute hyperglycemia and Arg act at the hypothalamic level, stimulating and inhibiting, respectively, the release of somatostatin.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1000-1003
Number of pages4
JournalMetabolism: Clinical and Experimental
Volume41
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 1992
Externally publishedYes

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Arginine abolishes the inhibitory effect of glucose on the growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing hormone in man'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this