Growth-hormone releasing factor and clonidine in children with constitutional growth delay. Evidence for defective pituitary growth hormone reserve.

Abstract

Six male prepubertal children with constitutional growth delay (CGD), and a subnormal growth hormone (GH) response to insulin hypoglycemia, and four normal prepubertal children were given in different occasions 1 microgram/Kg iv synthetic hpGRF-40 or a single oral dose of 0.15 mg/m2 clonidine (Clon), an effective growth hormone (GH) secretagogue. In the normal children brisk and clear-cut GH rises were detected in plasma after hpGRF-40 (peak GH levels at 15-30 min) or clonidine (peak GH levels 60-90 min). In CGD children hpGRF-40 induced a biphasic response, e.g. a slight increase in plasma GH at 15 min followed by a delayed and erratic GH rise occurring 45-120 min post-injection. Also the GH response to Clon was sluggish and delayed and peak plasma GH levels were attained only 90-180 min post-drug administration. These data indicate that the CGD children of our study have a defect in the pituitary GH reserve.

• Authors: C Pintor, R Puggioni, V Fanni, S G Cella, A Villa, V Locatelli, E E Müller
• Journal: Journal of endocrinological investigation (J Endocrinol Invest) Vol. 7 Issue 3 Pg. 253-6 (Jun 1984) ISSN: 0391-4097 [Print] Italy
• PMID: 6432895 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Peptide Fragments
• somatotropin releasing factor 40
• Growth Hormone
• Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone
• Clonidine

Topics

• Child
• Clonidine (pharmacology)
• Growth Disorders (physiopathology)
• Growth Hormone (metabolism)
• Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone
• Humans
• Male
• Peptide Fragments
• Secretory Rate (drug effects)