title: Neuropharmacological assessment of growth hormone secretion.
abstract: The biochemical diagnosis of individuals who are either deficient in growth hormone (GH) or who have alterations in the normal pattern of GH secretion is difficult. The uncertainty surrounding diagnosis reflects the lack of a thorough understanding of the physiology of GH secretion and of the hypothalamic hormones involved. At least three hormones are implicated: GH-releasing hormone (GHRH), somatostatin and the endogenous ligand of the GH secretagogue receptor, although the role that each plays in the release of GH is not clear from the available experimental evidence. In such a situation, most of the dynamic tests of GH secretory capacity in humans need to undergo a 'trial and error' process before being validated. The search for the 'gold standard' test of GH secretion is ongoing, and the combination of GHRH plus GH secretagogues will probably play an important role in future clinical diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Complejo Hospitalario de Santiago, Santiago de Compostela University, Spain.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Carro
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Señaris
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Peino
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leal-Cerro
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Popovic
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Micic
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dieguez
authors.forename: F F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Casanueva
mesh_terms: D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006706:Homeostasis; D006801:Humans; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000502:physiology; D008954:Models, Biological; D013004:Somatostatin / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D013004:Somatostatin; D013006:Growth Hormone; D013007:Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone