Nocturnal growth hormone secretion in schizophrenic patients and healthy subjects.
Plasma growth hormone concentrations were measured at hourly intervals between 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. the next morning in 15 drug-free chronic schizophrenic male inpatients and 14 healthy males. Growth hormone secretion was significantly lower in the patients as compared with the controls. Growth hormone release peaked around 1 a.m. in the controls, but a growth hormone peak was absent in the patient group. Increased dopamine activity, increased serotonin activity, or both could explain the absence of a nocturnal growth hormone surge in the schizophrenic patients.
Kahn
R S
RS
Clinical Research Unit, Bronx Veterans Administration, NY 10468.
Davidson
M
M
Hirschowitz
J
J
Stern
R G
RG
Davis
B M
BM
Gabriel
S
S
Moore
C
C
Davis
K L
KL
D000328:Adult; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis; D012565:Schizophrenic Psychology; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology
D013006:Growth Hormone; D004298:Dopamine