title: Impaired beta-endorphin response to human corticotropin-releasing hormone in obese children.
abstract: In order to evaluate the secretion of beta-endorphin in obese children and adolescents, we measured plasma beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol levels before and following administration of CRH (1 microgram/kg). Fourteen normal weight and 22 obese subjects (weight excess ranging from 30 to 98%) were studied. Plasma hormone levels were measured by radioimmunoassay directly in plasma (cortisol, ACTH) and after silicic acid extraction and Sephadex G-75 column chromatography (beta-endorphin). Basal beta-endorphin levels in obese children were significantly higher than in controls (14.7 +/- 1.8 vs 6.0 +/- 0.6 pmol/l; mean +/- SEM). No differences were found in basal ACTH and cortisol levels. CRH administration significantly increased beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol levels in normal subjects and ACTH and cortisol levels in obese subjects. Plasma beta-endorphin levels in obese children and adolescents did not show any significant increment. These data confirm the higher than normal beta-endorphin plasma levels in obese subjects in childhood and demonstrate that CRH is unable to increase beta-endorphin levels, suggesting an impairment of the hypothalamo-pituitary control mechanisms or an extra-anterior pituitary source.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernasconi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Petraglia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Iughetti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marcellini
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamborghini
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Facchinetti
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Genazzani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001615:beta-Endorphin; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone