Abstract
GRP is a potent and specific stimulator of growth hormone (GH) secretion. It is a 6 aminoacid peptide with lower molecular weight and longer half life than GRF. To clarify how this peptide acts, we administered separately and together 1 ug/kg bolus doses of GRP and GRF iv to 22 children (13 M, 9 F), ages 3-16 years, with previously documented GHD. Tests were separated by at least 1 week. Bone ages ranged from 1-10 years and growth velocities were less than 3 cm/year. GH was measured by RIA with an intraassay cv of 5 %. A positive response was defined as a GH increase greater than 4 cv's. We observed 12 (58%) positive responses to GRP, and 15 positive responses to GRF (68 %). Nineteen (86 %) patients responded to both peptides administered together. Out of the 12 GRP respondcrs only 9 patients had a positive response to GRF, and out of the 15 GRF respondcrs only 9 had a positive response to GRP. GH peak levels were observed between 5 and 60 min (mean 30 min) after GRF, and between 10-45 min (mean 24 min) after GRP. We conclude that GRP is a potent secretagogue of growth hormone in a substantial proportion of GH deficient children. The dissociated response to GRP and GRF suggests that they stimulate GH release through different mechanisms.
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Mericq, V., Cassorla, F., García, H. et al. GROWTH HORMONE RESPONSES TO GROWTH HORMONE RELEASING PEPTIDE (GRP) AND TO GROWTH HORMONE RELEASING HORMONE (GRF) IN GROWTH HORMONE DEFICIENT CHILDREN (GHD). Pediatr Res 33 (Suppl 5), S47 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00263
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-199305001-00263