Growth hormone secretion in hypertensive patients: evidence for a derangement in central adrenergic function.
1. In an attempt to test the hypothesis of a derangement in central catecholaminergic function in hypertensive patients, the serum growth hormone and prolactin responses to the alpha-adrenergic agonist clonidine (0.15 mg infused intravenously) and to L-dopa administration (500 mg orally) were evaluated in 15 hypertensive and 15 normotensive subjects matched for sex, age and body weight. 2. Whereas L-dopa elicited a growth hormone response of similar magnitude in both groups, clonidine infusion induced a significant increase in serum growth hormone in normotensive, but not in hypertensive, subjects. 3. Prolactin levels were equally suppressed by L-dopa and did not change after clonidine in either group. 4. The present study adds neuroendocrine evidence to the concept of a derangement in central alpha-adrenergic function in human hypertension.
D000328:Adult; D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007980:Levodopa / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical
D007980:Levodopa; D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D003000:Clonidine