Elevated response of growth hormone to graded doses of apomorphine in schizophrenic patients.
Three different dosages of apomorphine (0.003 mg/kg, 0.006 mg/kg, 0.012 mg/kg) were administered to stimulate the release of growth hormone (GH) in 16 male schizophrenic patients (age: 30.6, SD: 8.1 years) and 12 healthy male controls (age: 29, SD: 3.2 years). Results showed a significantly higher GH response (P < 0.01) after stimulation with 0.006 mg/kg apomorphine (APO). In contrast, stimulation with 0.012 apomorphine was unable to distinguish patients from normal controls. The results support the hypothesis of an increased dopaminergic receptor sensitivity in the hypothalamic-pituitary system of acute schizophrenic patients. This disturbance of dopaminergic neurotransmission could be observed only after a stimulation with low doses of apomorphine.
Müller-Spahn
F
F
University of Basel, Department of Psychiatry, Switzerland.
Modell
S
S
Ackenheil
M
M
Brachner
A
A
Kurtz
G
G
D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007030:Hypothalamo-Hypophyseal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010913:Pituitary-Adrenal System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011954:Receptors, Dopamine / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D011954:Receptors, Dopamine; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D001058:Apomorphine