Abstract
B-EP and C serum levels in response to CRF were studied in 10 obese adolescent subjects (4M,6F) 8-17 years of age. All patients were healthy with an overweight ranging from 35 to 95% and a mean duration of obesity of 10 years. Blood samples were drawn before and 15, 30, 60, 120, 240 minutes after i.v. injection of 1 ug/kg of CRF (CRF Bissendorf). The baseline B-EP and C levels were 12.9 ± 6.3 fmol/ml and 9.4 ± 4.7 ug%ml respectively, confirming the hyper B-EP previously reported. Among these subjects 2 different groups were identified, based on their responses to CRF: A) Responders with 100% increase of B-EP (Δ = 14.4 ± 5.9, n=4) and B Non-responders in which B-EP did not rise after CRF stimulation (maxΔ = 1.7, n=4). Furthermore, the mean baseline values of B-EP in group A were significant lower than those in group B (8.17±2.5 v.s. 19.3±4.3 p<0.01). No correlation was found between basal and stimulated levels of B-EP and C in the two groups. These data show that among obese patients 2 different population can be identified based on B-EP responses to CRF and that this distinction is independent from age, sex, % overweight, duration of obesity and C responses.
The significant difference between baseline levels in the two groups suggests that in group B the lack of response to CRF can be related to a chronic over-stimulation with either secondary depletion of the reserve capacity or over-saturation of the receptors.
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Bernasconi, S., Facchinetti, F., Marcellini, C. et al. BETA ENDORPHIN (B-EP) and CORTISOL (C) RESPONSES TO CRF IN OBESE ADOLESCENTS. Pediatr Res 20, 1202 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00173
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198611000-00173