title: Low dose orally administered arginine is able to enhance both basal and growth hormone-releasing hormone-induced growth hormone secretion in normal short children.
abstract: Aim of this study was to verify whether arginine (ARG), which likely inhibits hypothalamic somatostatin release, has an enhancing effect on the GHRH-induced GH rise, even when administered orally at low dose. To this goal we studied the effects of 4 g orally administered ARG, either hydrochloride (ARG-H) or aspartate (ARG-A), on both basal and GHRH (1 microgram/Kg i.v.)-stimulated GH secretion in 31 children with familial short stature (11 males and 20 females, aged 5.5-13.8 yr, pubertal stage I-III, and compared the results with those of i.v. infusion of 0.5 g/kg ARG-H. Oral ARG-H (Group A, n = 11) induced a significant increase of basal GH levels (4.2 +/- 1.3 vs 1.0 +/- 0.4 micrograms/L, p < 0.02) and enhanced the GH response to GHRH (41.1 +/- 8.6 vs 25.3 +/- 6.7 micrograms/L, p < 0.02). Oral ARG-A (Group B, n = 10) induced a slight, but not statistically significant increase in serum GH levels (3.4 +/- 1.5 vs 1.0 +/- 0.3 micrograms/L) and enhanced the GHRH-induced GH rise (49.7 +/- 9.8 vs 26.1 +/- 8.4 micrograms/L, p < 0.05). Intravenous ARG-H (Group C, n = 10) stimulated basal GH levels (6.2 +/- 1.2 vs 1.2 +/- 0.3 micrograms/L, p < 0.005) and increased the GHRH-induced GH rise (46.7 +/- 5.0 vs 17.1 +/- 2.3 micrograms/L, p < 0.005). This response was similar to those after oral ARG-H or ARG-A plus GHRH. No variation was observed in PRL levels after oral ARG (either ARG-H or ARG-A) and/or GHRH.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Fisiopatologia Clinica, Università di Torino, Italy.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bellone
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bartolotta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cardinale
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arvat
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cherubini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aimaretti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccario
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mucci
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Camanni
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghigo
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000293:Adolescent; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D011388:Prolactin / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011388:Prolactin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D001120:Arginine