title: Localization of growth hormone-releasing hormone in the human hypothalamus and pituitary stalk.
abstract: The localization of the recently identified GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) in the human hypothalamus and pituitary stalk was determined by microdissection techniques and a specific RIA for GHRH. The highest concentrations of GHRH immunoreactivity (IR-GHRH) in the hypothalamus were found in the area of the infundibular nucleus (83 +/- 4 ng/mg protein; average +/- range). Lower quantities were found in other hypothalamic regions. Very high concentrations of IR-GHRH were present in the upper portion of the pituitary stalk (1454 +/- 48 ng/mg protein), and they decreased gradually toward the distal end of the stalk (21 +/- 3 ng/mg). This concentration gradient suggests that the peptide reaches the anterior pituitary mainly by way of the long portal vessels. Somatostatin, the second neuropeptide involved in the regulation of GH secretion from the anterior pituitary, had a pattern of distribution along the pituitary stalk very similar to that of IR-GHRH.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Werner
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fridkin
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000032:analysis* / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D013004:Somatostatin; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone