L-Dopa stimulated growth hormone release in the blind.
Following L-Dopa administration (single oral dose of 500 mg), plasma Growth hormone (GH) levels significantly rose in 7 out of 8 normal subjects (aged between 64-83) and in 4 out of 8 blind subjects (aged between 60-88). The mean peak +/- SE in the 8 normal subjects was 24.9 +/- 4.9 ng/ml and in the 8 blind subjects was 11.5 +/- 2.8 ng/ml. These findings represent an additional anomaly in pituitary hormone release in the blind and may indicate that dopamine receptors in the hypothalamus are less sensitive to L-Dopa in blind people than in normal subjects.
D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000097:blood*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors
D007980:Levodopa; D013006:Growth Hormone