Abstract
Large amounts of glucocorticosteroids (CS) inhibit growth hormone (GH) secretion. The effect of physiological concentrations has not extensively been investigated. Therefore, we have correlated spontaneous CS and GH secretion during the night in 27 children. We have compared the integrated F values of three 4-hr-periods with GH secretion measured at half hour intervals. When F was high, GH was low, and vice versa. This correlation was statistically significant (p = 0.028). We think, however, that this correlation is not the expression of a causal relationship, but rather the reflection of the fact that GH secretion is highest during the first part of the night (due to onset of sleep) when F still is low (due to the circadian rhythm of F secretion). In the period from 4 - 8 hr. a.m. GH is low and F is high. A more detailed statistical analysis which eliminates those 2 factors influencing secretion indicates that there is no correlation between F and GH. Evaluation of GH after insulin induced hypoglycaemia in 77 children equally shows a lack of influence of endogenous F upon GH secretion. These results fit with the observation (summarized from all available published data) that the inhibiting effect of pharmacological doses of CS is clearly dose dependent. Endogenous F would be, under physiological conditions, too low to inhibit GH secretion.
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Mühlendahl, K., Pachaly, J. & Weber, B. 23: Lack of influence of physiological cortisol concentrations upon growth hormone secretion. Pediatr Res 10, 876 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197610000-00028
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197610000-00028