title: Effects of sex and age on serum GH binding protein levels in normal adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The effects of sex and age on serum growth hormone binding protein (GHBP) levels during adulthood were investigated.
  
  
  METHODS
  The levels of GHBP, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), and growth hormone (GH) were determined and analysed as a function of sex and age.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 101 normal adults (45 men, aged 20-77 years; 56 women, aged 20-80 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  GHBP levels were determined using an Ultrogel AcA 44 minicolumn.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the second and third decade, GHBP levels were not different between men (22.8 +/- 1.1%) (mean +/- SE) and women (23.2 +/- 0.8%). After the age of 40 years, however, GHBP levels in men were significantly decreased (19.1 +/- 0.7%), and were lower than those in women (22.7 +/- 0.9%). IGF-I levels correlated positively with GHBP levels in men (r = 0.51, P less than 0.01) but not in women (r = 0.16, NS).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results indicate that both sex and age may have some effects on the GH-GH receptor-IGF-I axis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Kobe City General Hospital, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kurahachi
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikekubo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ishihara
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Moridera
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hino
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saiki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Imura
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000097:blood*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone; C051815:somatotropin-binding protein