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Independent effects of growth hormone releasing factor on growth hormone release and gene transcription

Nature volume 314, pages 279–281 (1985)Cite this article

Abstract

The synthesis and secretion of growth hormone (GH) by the somatotropic cells of the anterior pituitary is under complex hormonal regulation. The hypothalamic peptides, growth hormone releasing factor (GHRF) and somatostatin, respectively stimulate1–3 and block4 GH release. We have shown that treatment of primary cultures of rat anterior pituitary cells with GHRF stimulates transcription of the GH gene, as well as GH release, and that this reflects the response of pituitary cells in vivo5. Gick et al. have shown a stimulation of GH mRNA levels in normal pituitary cells in response to GHRF6. Because normal pituitary cells are the physiological target for GHRF and because they exhibit both transcriptional and release responses to the hormone, they provide a valuable system with which to examine the important possibility of a link between hormone synthesis and release in secretory cells. Using this system, we demonstrate here that GHRF stimulates GH gene transcription independently of GH release and, conversely, that other agents can stimulate GH release without affecting transcription of the GH gene.

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Author notes

  1. Marcia Barinaga

    Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, 94305, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, San Diego, California, 92138, USA

    Marcia Barinaga, Louise M. Bilezikjian, Wylie W. Vale & Ronald M. Evans

  2. Department of Biology, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92097, USA

    Marcia Barinaga

  3. Eukaryotic Regulatory Biology Program, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, California, 92097, USA

    Michael G. Rosenfeld

Authors
  1. Marcia Barinaga
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  2. Louise M. Bilezikjian
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  3. Wylie W. Vale
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  4. Michael G. Rosenfeld
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  5. Ronald M. Evans
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Barinaga, M., Bilezikjian, L., Vale, W. et al. Independent effects of growth hormone releasing factor on growth hormone release and gene transcription. Nature 314, 279–281 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/314279a0

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