title: Methscopolamine bromide blocks hypothalamic-stimulated release of growth hormone in ewes.
abstract: Twenty-five nonlactating ewes were used to test the hypothesis that methscopolamine bromide (MB) blocks secretion of growth hormone (GH) by affecting hypothalamic rather than pituitary mechanisms. Ewes were randomly assigned to receive a s.c. injection of 96 mg of MB or 2 mL of saline at min = 0. Saline-treated ewes were assigned to receive a subsequent (at +60 min) i.v. injection of 10 microg of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) to test pituitary responsiveness or .3 mg of clonidine to test hypothalamic responsiveness. Methscopolamine bromide-treated ewes were assigned to receive a subsequent (at +60 min) i.v. injection of 10 microg of GHRH, .3 mg of clonidine, or 2 mL of saline. Jugular blood samples were collected at 10-min intervals from -120 min to +240 min, and serum concentrations of GH were quantified with a RIA. No difference was detected in serum concentrations of GH with respect to MB vs saline treatment (P = .20). Concentrations of GH increased in saline-pretreated ewes following injections of clonidine or GHRH (P < .01). Treatment of ewes with MB, however, limited the ability of clonidine-induced mechanisms to increase concentrations of GH, but did not affect pituitary responsiveness to GHRH (P < .01). These data support the hypothesis that MB inhibits hypothalamic and not pituitary mediated mechanisms that regulate the secretion of GH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia 65211, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Keisler
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003000:Clonidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D019832:N-Methylscopolamine; D010276:Parasympatholytics / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D011897:Random Allocation; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012756:Sheep / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D012602:Scopolamine Derivatives; D013004:Somatostatin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone; D003000:Clonidine; D019832:N-Methylscopolamine