title: Neostigmine stimulates growth hormone-releasing hormone release into hypophysial portal blood of conscious sheep.
abstract: GH secretion is stimulated by the administration of cholinesterase inhibitors (such as pyridostigmine and neostigmine) in several species, including man. On the basis of indirect experiments, it has been postulated that this action is mediated by a decrease in hypothalamic somatostatin release. We have investigated the effect of neostigmine in sheep, since it is possible to collect hypophysial portal blood for GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin determination in this species under a conscious unstressed state. First, after i.v. injection of neostigmine (1 mg), a significant increase in plasma GH levels and an unequivocal potentiation of the GH response to GHRH were observed. Then, we observed that i.v. injection of neostigmine (1 mg) induced an immediate, short-lasting (30 min), and marked increase in GHRH (126.1 +/- 17 vs. 14.5 +/- 2.1 pg/ml; P < 0.01) levels in hypophysial portal blood of rams chronically implanted with perihypophysial cannulae. No change in somatostatin secretion was recorded during the same period. These data suggest that the stimulating effect of cholinergic drugs on GH secretion is mediated by stimulation of GHRH release. A direct effect of neostigmine at the level of pituitary gland is possible and may explain the potentiation of GHRH-induced GH release.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Neuroendocrinologie Expérimentale, INSERUM 297, Faculté Médecine Secteur Nord, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Magnan
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cataldi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Guillaume
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mazzocchi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dutour
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Conte-Devolx
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giraud
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oliver
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003243:Consciousness; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009388:Neostigmine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010902:Pituitary Gland / Q000098:blood supply / Q000378:metabolism*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012756:Sheep; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D009388:Neostigmine; D013004:Somatostatin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone