Growth hormone and somatomedin C during post-menopausal replacement therapy with oestrogen alone and in combination with an antioestrogen.
Serum concentrations of growth hormone (GH) and somatomedin C were monitored in 14 women during post-menopausal replacement therapy with oestrogen alone and in combination with a specific antioestrogen. During 3 mth of treatment with ethinyl oestradiol (10 micrograms daily), the mean serum GH level rose from 2.8 +/- 0.78 mU/l (mean +/- S.E.M.) to 6.5 +/- 0.39 mU/l, whereas the concentration of somatomedin C fell from 22.4 +/- 0.89 to 15.4 +/- 0.43 nM. These changes during unopposed oestrogen treatment were clearly reversed by the addition of tamoxifen (20 mg daily), following which GH concentrations fell to pre-treatment levels. It is suggested that oestrogens inhibit somatomedin C production in the liver and that GH secretion may play an important role in regard to certain liver effects induced by oral oestrogen therapy.
Fröhlander
N
N
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University Hospital, Umeå, Sweden.
von Schoultz
B
B
D000328:Adult; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000097:blood*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008593:Menopause / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013002:Somatomedins / Q000097:blood*; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000494:pharmacology
D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D004967:Estrogens; D013002:Somatomedins; D013629:Tamoxifen; D004997:Ethinyl Estradiol; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone