Pituitary secretion of growth hormone in response to opioid peptides and opiates is mediated through growth hormone-releasing factor.
Passive immunization of rats with an antiserum raised against rat growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) completely inhibited the growth hormone (GH) response to morphine and beta-endorphin but did not alter the prolactin (PRL) response to those two stimuli. These results demonstrate that opiate and opioid peptide stimulation of pituitary GH secretion is mediated through hypothalamic GRF and presents an animal model in which the stimulated secretion of GH and PRL can be specifically dissociated.
Wehrenberg
W B
WB
Bloch
B
B
Ling
N
N
D000818:Animals; D004723:Endorphins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D001615:beta-Endorphin
D004723:Endorphins; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D009020:Morphine; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone