Abstract
Experimental and clinical studies have demonstrated that hypothalamic monoaminergic neurons are involved in the regulation of growth hormone (GH) secretion, but the roles of the specific monoamines act to regulate GH secretion are, however, still unclear, Apomorphine, in contrast to L-dopa, is considered to stimulate dopamine receptors without affecting noradrenaline receptors or the content of serotonin in the brain. It has been shown that hyperglycemia suppresses L-dopa induced GH release and there is evidence for a glucoreceptor mechanism in the hypothalamus. Studies were performed in male volunteers to investigate GH release following the s.c. injection of apomorphine (0.75 mg) and the influence of hyperglycemia on this response. Both under normoglycemia and hyperglycemia all subjects responded to apomorphine with a marked increase in plasma GH with a maximum after 30–60 min. The results support the view that GH release in man can be influenced through a dopaminergic mechanism. The finding that the plasma GH rise after apomorphine is not suppressible by glucose indicates that apomorphine activates dopaminergic receptors localized distally in the hypothalamus or in the anterior pituitary. Apomorphine in low dosage may be used clinically to test the capacity of the pituitary to release GH in man.
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Nilsson, K. LACK OF EFFECT OF HYPERGLYCEMIA ON APOMORPHINE INDUCED GROWTH HORMONE RELEASE IN NORMAL MAN. Pediatr Res 9, 672 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00046
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197508000-00046