Abstract
Pentagastrin - the C-terminal pentapeptide of gastrin - has been shown to stimulate both plasma GH and SRIF. Immunoreactive GHRH in the gastrointestinal tract has been mainly found in the G cells of gastric antrum. Therefore we determined the effect of pentagastrin on the plasma levels of these tightly connected hormones.
6 μg/kg pentagastrin was administered subcutaneously to 10 short normal children. Blood samples were drawn at -30, 0, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 90 and 120 min. Informed parental consent was given. GH, SRIF and GHRH were measured according to recently described methods (Acta Endocrinol 116 (1987):549).
Results (mean ± SEM): Following pentagastrin injection plasma GH levels increased within 15 to 90 min (1.1 ± 0.4 μg/l vs. 9.3 ± 1.2 μg/l; P < 0.01). Plasma GHRH values increased between 15 and 45 min (9.6 ± 0.6 ng/l vs. 19.6 ± 2.0 ng/l; P < 0.01). Plasma SRIF peaks occurred from 5 min to 30 min (11.7 ± 0.8 ng/l vs. 20.8 ± 1-9 ng/l; P < 0.01). The plasma SRIF peak preceded or coincided with that of plasma GHRH in any case and there was a negative linear correlation between the peak values of these two hormones (r=0.67; p < 0.05). No time relationship between GHRH plasma peaks and GH peaks was noticed.
We conclude that gastrointestinal GHRH might play a role in the regulation of gastric acid secretion, but does not stimulate GH.
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Rosskamp, R., Haverkamp, F., Raabe, N. et al. 49 RESPONSE OF PLASMA CONCENTRATIONS OF GROWTH HORMONE (GH), GH-RELEASING HORMONE (GHEH), AND SOMATOSTATIN (SRIF) TO PENTAGASTRIN INJECTION IN CHILDREN. Pediatr Res 24, 525 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00070
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198810000-00070