title: Atropine blockade of growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone-induced GH secretion in man is not exerted at pituitary level.
abstract: The role of acetylcholine (Ach) in the regulation of human GH secretion was assessed using atropine, which selectively blocks cholinergic muscarinic receptors. Paired tests were performed in seven normal subjects using GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) 1-44 (1 microgram/kg iv), with and without atropine pretreatment (1 mg im). The GHRH 1-44-induced GH secretory peak [20.7 +/- 4.5 (SEM) ng/ml] was completely blocked by atropine administration (2.3 +/- 0.6 ng/ml) (P less than 0.01). To determine whether this atropine blockade was at the pituitary level, a series of in vitro studies were conducted using monolayer cultures of cells from bovine anterior pituitary glands. GHRH 1-44 (10(-8) M) stimulated bovine GH release (11.1 +/- 1.5 micrograms/ml) as compared to control values (5.1 +/- 0.4 microgram/ml) (P less than 0.01). This response was not altered by 10(-6) M atropine (14.9 +/- 0.9 microgram/ml). Similar results were obtained with GHRH, 10(-9) M, with or without atropine, 10(-7) M. Addition of 10(-6) M Ach to the incubation medium significantly increased bovine GH release (12.7 +/- 1.2 microgram/ml) and the effect of 10(-6) M Ach and 10(-8) M GHRH was additive (20.9 +/- 2.1 micrograms/ml) (P less than 0.01). Similar results were obtained with Ach, 10(-5) M, and GHRH, 10(-9) M. Atropine or eserine alone did not alter basal GH secretion, and atropine blocked Ach-stimulating activity. In conclusion, atropine blockade of GHRH-induced GH secretion appears to be exerted at a site other than pituitary.
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Casanueva
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Villanueva
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dieguez
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cabranes
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Szoke
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Scanlon
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Schally
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Cruz
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002417:Cattle; D004294:Domperidone / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D010830:Physostigmine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012016:Reference Values; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004294:Domperidone; D013973:Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone; D001285:Atropine; D013972:Thyrotropin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D010830:Physostigmine; D000109:Acetylcholine