title: Evidence for a sex difference in the basal growth hormone response to GABAergic stimulation in humans.
abstract: Evidence has been provided supporting the existence of a sex-related difference in the GH secretion following different GH-releasing stimuli. Since pharmacological activation of the endogenous gammaaminobutyric acid (GABA) system results in increased basal GH release in humans, the present study was undertaken to investigate whether a sex difference is present in the GH response to GABAergic stimulation. Sixteen healthy subjects (8 women and 8 men) received orally 10 mg of baclofen, the direct GABAB agonist which freely crosses the blood-brain barrier. Blood samples were collected before (T = -30 and 0) and 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 min after the drug administration for plasma GH measurements. Following baclofen administration, plasma GH rose in healthy males (F = 19.417, P less than 0.0001), but not in females (F = 1.67, NS). These results suggest that GABA modulation of human GH release is sex-dependent.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Service, U.S.L. 41, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Monteleone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maj
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iovino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Steardo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001418:Baclofen / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects*; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D013006:Growth Hormone; D001418:Baclofen