L-proline loading for the assessment of pituitary GH reserve.
Intravenous insulin (0.1 U/kg body weight) and oral 1-proline (100 mg/kg body weight) tolerance tests were performed in 22 healthy and 30 short-statured children and adolescents and blood glucose, serum immunoreactive growth hormone (GH), immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and 1-proline were determined. The peak level of serum GH was significantly higher following insulin than after 1-proline. The proline loading correctly identified the normality of GH axis in 12 out of 22 controls and in 3 out of 7 normopituitary short-statured patients. The serum 1-proline levels consideration did not improve much the ability of 1-proline load to detect either the normal GH responsiveness or the pituitary insufficiency. The mechanism of GH stimulatory properties of 1-proline in some healthy subjects is not known.
D001786:Blood Glucose; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000378:metabolism; D011392:Proline / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D011392:Proline