title: Ovine corticotropin releasing hormone stimulation test: normal value study.
abstract: We determined the pituitary-adrenal response to 1 microgram/kg of ovine corticotropin releasing hormone (oCRH) administered as an intravenous bolus injection in 50 normal subjects. Brief facial flushing was noted in 44% of the subjects; no other side effects were reported. Plasma corticotropin levels increased from a median of 30.2 pg/ml at baseline to a median peak level of 77.8 pg/ml after administration of oCRH; the peak response occurred at the 30- to 45-minute or the 45- to 60-minute time point. Plasma cortisol levels increased from a median of 10.8 micrograms/dl at baseline to a median peak level of 22.0 micrograms/dl after administration of oCRH; the peak response occurred at the 45- to 60-minute time point. Plasma beta-endorphin levels increased from a median of 9.5 pg/ml at baseline to a median peak level of 23.0 pg/ml after administration of oCRH; the peak response occurred at the 15- to 30-minute or the 30- to 45-minute time point. The responsiveness to oCRH was unaffected by age, sex, or body mass index of the subjects.
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology/Metabolism and Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905.
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Zinsmeister
authors.forename: C K
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Twomey
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Kao
authors.forename: N S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Carpenter
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010912:Pituitary-Adrenal Function Tests; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects*; D011674:Pulse / Q000187:drug effects; D012016:Reference Values; D012756:Sheep; D013997:Time Factors; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone