Changes of molecular forms of growth hormone in bromocriptine treated acromegaly in relation to changes of somatomedin-C and clinical response

1985 ◽  
Vol 108 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. W. R. Nortier ◽  
R. J. M. Croughs ◽  
G. H. Donker ◽  
J. H. H. thijssen ◽  
F. Schwarz

Abstract. Eleven patients with active acromegaly were treated with 10–20 mg bromocriptine daily for a period of 6–9 months. The clinical response was evaluated by a 'clinical and metabolic improvement score'. The biochemical response was evaluated by measurement of both the mean plasma growth hormone (GH) level during the day and the somatomedin-C (Sm-C) concentration. Before and at the end of the treatment period plasma samples were fractionated by Sephadex G-100 chromatography in order to study the effects of chronic bromocriptine treatment on the concentrations of total GH and its different molecular forms. The main observations may be summarized as follows: Three immunoreactive components were observed on Sephadex chromatography corresponding to molecular weight above 100 000 (big-big GH), 40000–60000 (big GH) and 20000–22000 (little GH). Bromocriptine treatment induced preferentially a reduction of little GH. There was a very good correlation between the decrease of little GH and total GH, and both were significantly correlated with the clinical response. The correlation between the decrease of Sm-C values and that of little and total GH as well as between the decrease of Sm-C and the clinical response was poor. It is concluded that a) measurement of little GH is not superior to the determination of total GH in the assessment of disease activity of bromocriptine treated acromegalic patients; b) both methods are superior to the measurement of plasma Sm-C levels; c) clinical response out of proportion ot the fall of total GH which can be explained by a preferential reduction of little GH, has not been observed in our investigations.

1965 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Apostolakis

ABSTRACT A method for the extraction of prolactin from human pituitary glands is described. It is based on acetone drying, distilled water extraction, acetone and isoelectric precipitation. Two main products are obtained: Fraction R8 with a mean prolactin activity of 12.2 IU/mg and fraction U8 with a mean prolactin activity of 8.6 IU/mg. The former fraction does not contain any significant gonadotrophin activity and the latter contains on an average 50 HMG U/mg. In both cases contamination with ACTH and MSH is minimal. The growth hormone activity of both these fractions is low. It is postulated that in man too, prolactin and growth hormone are two distinct hormones. A total of 1250 human pituitary glands have been processed by this method. The mean prolactin content per pituitary gland has been found to be 73 IU.


1974 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristian F. Hanssen

ABSTRACT Twenty newly diagnosed, but as yet untreated patients of both sexes with classical juvenile diabetes were investigated by determining the mean plasma immunoreactive growth hormone (IRHGH) and urinary IRHGH for a 24 hour period before and during initial insulin treatment. The plasma IRHGH was significantly higher (0.05 > P > 0.01) before than during initial insulin treatment. During initial insulin treatment, the mean plasma IRHGH was significantly higher (0.01 > P > 0.001) than in a control group. The urinary IRHGH was significantly higher (0.01 > P > 0.001) before than during insulin treatment. The increased urinary IRHGH observed before insulin treatment is thought to be partly due to a defective renal tubular reabsorption of growth hormone. No significant correlation was found between the mean blood sugar and plasma or urinary IRHGH either before or during insulin treatment.


1985 ◽  
Vol 22 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 32-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy Van Vliet ◽  
Danièle Bosson ◽  
Claude Robyn ◽  
Margareta Craen ◽  
Paul Malvaux ◽  
...  

1986 ◽  
Vol 113 (4_Suppl) ◽  
pp. S60-S65 ◽  
Author(s):  
WILLIAM HAMILTON ◽  
MOHSEN M. KHATTAB

Abstract The insulin hypoglycaemia test (IHT) was performed on 3 groups of short statured children. One group was unprimed with sex steroid hormones, a second group received 17β-oestradiol, while a third group received testosterone. The dosage of insulin was adjusted to produce a nadir in blood glucose of ⇋ 1 mmol/L. When this level is achieved plasma growth hormone (GH) responses less than 10 mU/L are not improved by either priming procedure. It is suggested from the data that there is no place for a diagnosis of a partial GH deficiency state. When the IHT is combined with Gn-RH and TRH infusion the data derived may indicate GH-RH deficiency alone or additionally a CRF deficiency. Alternatively a pituitary insensitivity to these releasing substances or a pituitary synthetic failure of all trophic hormones may be adduced. Unless a releasing hormone is deficient and the pituitary is shown to be able to respond to its synthetic analogue, treatment with the available analogues will fail to give the desired clinical response.


1992 ◽  
Vol 127 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans Herlitz ◽  
Olof Jonsson ◽  
Bengt-Åke Bengtsson

We investigated the relationship between mean plasma growth hormone (GH) concentration and cellular sodium transport in untreated and treated acromegaly. Seventeen patients (age 55±3 years) with active acromegaly were studied with respect to plasma GH (mean of 24 h GH profile) and erythrocyte electrolyte content as well as transmembrane sodium transport. The patients were reinvestigated two weeks after successful surgery (N=14) and again after one year (N=13). Erythrocyte electrolytes were analyzed by flame photometry and sodium influx and efflux rate constant determined by in vitro incubation using a modified Keyne's formula. In patients with active acromegaly there was a significant positive correlation between IGF-1 and cellular sodium transport, while GH tended to show a negative relationship to the same parameter. After successful treatment, both IGF-1 and GH disclosed a positive relationship to cellular sodium transport. After one year, a significant increase in erythrocyte sodium content was seen in the patients compared to the preoperative situation. In conclusion, if this is a generalized phenomenon the results are compatible with a sodium-retaining effect of GH via stimulation of transmembrane sodium transport. In active acromegaly this may be counteracted by a sodium transport inhibitor giving the reverse relationship between GH and cellular sodium transport.


1973 ◽  
Vol 73 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
Knut Hove ◽  
Anne Kristine Blom

ABSTRACT Marked diurnal variations were found in plasma growth hormone (GH), insulin, acetoacetate (AcAc) and sugar in two herds (U and A) of dairy cows kept at two different levels of feeding. Seven animals from each herd were tested. The main diurnal variations were related to food intake, a significant increase in plasma insulin, and a significant decrease in plasma sugar being found. The acetoacetate level rose significantly during feeding in herd U (moderately underfed), while no significant increase was found in herd A (adequately fed). Plasma growth hormone was found to decrease (P < 0.01) only during feeding in herd U, while no change in the GH level could be detected in herd A. The mean level of GH in herd U was found to be twice the value found in herd A. There were no significant differences between the herds in plasma insulin and sugar. Significant differences in plasma levels of GH, insulin and sugar were found between animals when analysed within the herds. Variations in the levels of insulin and acetoacetate were very small during the night. This is contrary to GH, which shows the least variation during food intake. The correlation coefficient between the plasma components was low, although in many cases significant.


1976 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-25
Author(s):  
M. Vanderschueren-Lodeweyckx ◽  
W. Proesmans ◽  
E. Eggermont ◽  
R. Eeckels

ABSTRACT The effects of the infusion in four different dosages (0.001, 0.005, 0.02 and 0.2 mg/kg/min during 60 min) of cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate and of its dibutyryl derivative on plasma growth hormone and on glucose, immunoreactive insulin and cortisol were studied in 38 normal subjects and in 10 patients with idiopathic hypopituitarism. In normal subjects cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate provokes an increase in plasma growth hormone levels (only when a dosage of 0.2 mg/kg/min is used) without any changes in plasma glucose, insulin and cortisol. The maximal value of the means is observed 75 min after starting the infusion. Dibutyryl cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (0.2 and 0.02 mg/kg/min) provokes a dose-related rise in plasma growth hormone levels which is always preceded by hyperglycaemia and hyperinsulinaemia. The peak of the mean growth hormone levels occurs at 135 min after initiation of the infusion. In all but one hypopituitary patients the nucleotides do not promote growth hormone secretion. It is concluded that exogenous cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate and its dibutyryl derivative may not be considered as analogous and that both compounds may contribute to study growth hormone release in normal subjects and in patients with growth abnormalities.


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