title: Effects of direct and indirect acetylcholine receptor agonists on growth hormone secretion in humans.
abstract: Cholinergic pathways in the central nervous system positively influence growth hormone (GH) secretion. In fact pyridostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor, enhances both basal and GH-releasing hormone (GHRH)-induced GH secretion while, conversely, pirenzepine, an antagonist of muscarinic M1 receptors, inhibits the GH response to GHRH and to other physiological and pharmacological stimuli. The effect of the cholinergic system on GH secretion probably takes place via inhibition of the release of endogenous somatostatin. In this study in 36 normal adults (26 males and 10 females, age 22-35 years) we compared the effects of three cholinesterase inhibitors (pyridostigmine, 120 mg p.o., n = 19; neostigmine, 10 micrograms/kg i.v., n = 6; physostigmine, 12.5 micrograms/kg i.v., n = 6) and bethanechol, a direct muscarinic receptor agonist that is mainly active on muscarinic M3 receptors (25 micrograms/kg i.v., n = 5), on both basal and GHRH (1 microgram/kg i.v.)-stimulated GH secretion. Pyridostigmine, neostigmine and physostigmine induced a significant GH increase (peak vs. basal levels, mean +/- S.E.: 10.4 +/- 1.6 vs. 0.6 +/- 0.2 micrograms/l, P = 0.0001; 13.3 +/- 1.2 vs. 0.5 +/- 1.1 micrograms/l, P = 0.004; and 14.9 +/- 3.1 vs. 2.7 +/- 1.1 micrograms/l, P = 0.025;, respectively). These drugs also induced a similar potentiation of the GH response to GHRH (peak: 48.3 +/- 5.6 vs. 16.2 +/- 2.2 micrograms/l, P = 0.0001; 49.2 +/- 2.2 vs. 19.9 +/- 5.1 micrograms/l, P = 0.006; and 76.9 +/- 12.4 vs. 18.1 +/- 5.3 micrograms/l, P = 0.001, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazza
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghigo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Boffano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valetto
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccario
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arvat
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bellone
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Procopio
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Camanni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001626:Bethanechol Compounds / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005483:Flushing / Q000503:physiopathology; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009388:Neostigmine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D010830:Physostigmine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001626:Bethanechol Compounds; D018680:Cholinergic Antagonists; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D009388:Neostigmine; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D010830:Physostigmine; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide