Somatomedin C (insulin-like growth factor 1) levels decrease during acute changes of stress related hormones. Relevance for fibromyalgia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the effects of stress hormones on insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1).


METHODS
Insulin induced hypoglycemia (< 3 mmol/l) and clonidine induced depression of noradrenergic tone were used to assess the acute effects of cortisol, human growth hormone (hGH), and norepinephrine (NE).


RESULTS
Despite the increase of hGH during hypoglycemia, a statistically significant decrease of IGF-1 was observed along with the expected rise of cortisol and NE. To eliminate the role played by NE, NE tone was depressed by administering clonidine. A statistically significant decrease of IGF-1 was also observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute cortisol release or a NE decrease induce low IGF-1 levels.
Institute of Internal Medicine, Chair of Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Udine, Italy.
G
G
Ferraccioli
P
P
Guerra
V
V
Rizzi
M
M
Baraldo
F
F
Salaffi
M
M
Furlanut
E
E
Bartoli
D003000:Clonidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000097:blood*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007003:Hypoglycemia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced; D007328:Insulin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors
D007328:Insulin; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D013006:Growth Hormone; D003000:Clonidine; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D009638:Norepinephrine