Secretion of alpha and TSH-beta subunits in patients with acromegaly: an in vivo study.
Plasma alpha and TSH-beta subunit responses to iv administration of GHRH were examined in 19 patients with active acromegaly. In 4 patients (21%), plasma alpha subunit levels were increased over 50% of basal levels after administration of GHRH, whereas plasma TSH-beta subunit levels were increased in response to GHRH in another 5 patients (26%). No patient showed simultaneous increases of alpha and beta subunits. After successful surgery, alpha and TSH-beta subunits did not respond to GHRH. These findings support the idea that some pituitary adenomas in acromegaly cosecrete GH and either alpha subunit or TSH-beta subunit.
Department of Internal Medicine, Kyoto University Faculty of Medicine, Japan.
H
H
Assadian
A
A
Shimatsu
H
H
Koshiyama
N
N
Hattori
Y
Y
Ishikawa
T
T
Tanoh
H
H
Imura
D000172:Acromegaly / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000601:surgery; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013974:Thyroxine / Q000097:blood
D015292:Glycoprotein Hormones, alpha Subunit; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D013974:Thyroxine