title: Pyridostigmine potentiates growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone-induced GH release in both men and women.
abstract: It has been recently reported that pyridostigmine (PD), an indirect cholinergic agonist, probably acting via inhibition of hypothalamic somatostatin, potentiates the GH-releasing hormone (GHRH)-induced GH rise in men, but not in women. The aim of this study was to verify the sex-related, if any, GH response to GHRH (1 microgram/kg, i.v., as a bolus) both alone and preceded by two different doses of PD (120 mg, group A, and 60 mg, group B, given orally 60 min before GHRH) in a large group of volunteers (36 women, aged 18-35 yr, and 48 men, aged 18-35 yrs). In group A, 120 mg oral PD potentiated the GH response to GHRH in both men [area under the curve (AUC), 2579.3 +/- 264.5 vs. 806.2 +/- 99.7 micrograms/L.h; P < 0.00001] and women (AUC, 2273.2 +/- 248.7 vs. 792.6 +/- 72.7 micrograms/L.h; P < 0.00001). Similarly, in the group B, 60 mg oral PD potentiated the GH response to GHRH in both men (AUC, 1929.6 +/- 157.2 vs. 568.2 +/- 81.3 micrograms/L.h; P < 0.01) and in women (AUC, 1655.9 +/- 146.9 vs. 738.2 +/- 105.7 micrograms/L.h; P < 0.01). The GH responses to GHRH, both alone and after 120 and 60 mg oral PD, did not significantly differ in men and women. No sex-related difference was observed in the cholinergic side-effects (mild abdominal pain and muscle fasciculations) that occurred in nearly 30% of the subjects. In conclusion, our results clearly show that there is no sex-related difference in the potentiating effect of PD on GHRH-induced GH release, ruling out the suggestion that women have increased cholinergic activity, leading to reduced somatostatinergic tone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arvat
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cappa
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Casanueva
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dieguez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghigo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nicolosi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Valcavi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide