title: Pre- and postprandial pyridostigmine and oxiracetam effects on growth hormone secretion in anorexia nervosa.
abstract: Previous studies have shown that food ingestion is not capable of inhibiting the GHRH-induced GH release in anorexia nervosa, at variance with what is observed in normal subjects. Moreover, a cholinergic alteration has been hypothesized in this disorder. In a group of 24 anorectic patients in a stabilized phase of the illness, we tested, before and after a standard meal, the GH response to GHRH alone and after pre-treatment with pyridostigmine, an inhibitor of acetylcholinesterase, and, on a different day, with oxiracetam, which stimulates the central cholinergic neurones. The GH response to GHRH was significantly increased by both drugs in a fasting state. The postprandial response was not significantly modified by pyridostigmine nor by oxiracetam. Neither of these compounds was able to enhance the postprandial GH 'paradoxical' response to GHRH in anorectic patients. The lack of effect of both groups postprandially also suggests a suppression of somatostatinergic activity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrinology, Catholic University School of Medicine, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mancini
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valle
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Conte
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiumara
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perrelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Fabrizi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bianchi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Marinis
mesh_terms: D000110:Acetylcholinesterase / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D019518:Postprandial Period / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011759:Pyrrolidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018679:Cholinergic Agonists; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D011759:Pyrrolidines; D011950:Receptors, Cholinergic; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013004:Somatostatin; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D000110:Acetylcholinesterase; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide; C040619:oxiracetam