title: Altered growth hormone secretory dynamics in prepubertal males with constitutional delay of growth.
abstract: We have used the technique of deconvolution analysis to determine if abnormalities in growth hormone (GH) secretion or metabolic clearance underlie the observed alterations in circulating hormone concentrations in a group of seven prepubertal males with constitutional delay of growth (SHORT-DBA). The results were compared with data obtained from 13 healthy, short prepubertal males (SHORT) and 11 healthy prepubertal male subjects of normal stature (NORMAL). Although the mean 12-h overnight GH production rates were invariant among the groups (8.0 +/- 1.0 versus 7.3 +/- 0.7 versus 6.7 +/- 1.2 micrograms/L, NORMAL versus SHORT versus SHORT-DBA for all comparisons), different secretory mechanisms were operative. The secretory burst half-duration (time interval of the secretory event at half-maximal amplitude) of the SHORT-DBA subjects (26 +/- 1 min) was greater (p = 0.02) than that of the SHORT group (20 +/- 1 min); values for both the SHORT and SHORT-DBA subjects were indistinguishable from that of NORMAL controls (22 +/- 2). Both the mass of GH released per secretory episode and the maximal rate of hormone secretion were less (p < or = 0.02 and the p < 0.01, respectively) for the SHORT-DBA subjects [16 +/- 2 micrograms/unit of body distribution volume (Lv) and 0.6 +/- 0.1 microgram/Lv/min, respectively] compared with those of the NORMAL (26 +/- 2 micrograms/L, and 1.1 +/- 0.1 micrograms/Lv/min, respectively) and SHORT (28 +/- 4 micrograms/Lv and 1.3 +/- 0.2 micrograms/Lv/min, respectively) groups; values for the latter two groups were indistinguishable.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kerrigan
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Martha
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Veldhuis
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Blizzard
authors.forename: A D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rogol
mesh_terms: D001827:Body Height; D002648:Child; D006128:Growth; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D013006:Growth Hormone