title: alpha-Glycerylphosphorylcholine administration increases the GH responses to GHRH of young and elderly subjects.
abstract: Growth hormone (GH) secretion is decreased during aging in humans and in rodents. This decrease may be due to increased hypothalamic somatostatin release, which is inhibited by cholinergic agonists, or to decreased secretion of GHRH. Alpha-glyceryl-phosphorylcholine (alpha-GFC) is a putative acetylcholine precursor used in the treatment of cognitive disorders in the elderly. In order to learn what effect alpha-GFC had on GH secretion, GH-release hormone (GHRH) was given to young and old human volunteers, with or without the addition of alpha-GFC. GH secretion was greater in the younger subjects than in the old individuals, and both groups had a greater GH response to the GHRH+alpha-GFC than to GHRH alone. The potentiating effect of alpha-GFC on GH secretion was more pronounced in the elderly subjects. These findings confirm the observation that aged individuals respond less well to GHRH than younger subjects, and provides further evidence that increased cholinergic tone enhances GH release.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Gerontology and Geriatrics, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Ceda
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ceresini
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Denti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Marzani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Piovani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banchini
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tarditi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valenti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D005997:Glycerylphosphorylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D005997:Glycerylphosphorylcholine; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone