Effects of short-term administration of growth hormone in healthy young men, women, and women taking oral contraceptives.
OBJECTIVE
Effects of short-term administration of growth hormone (GH) with respect to gender and oral contraceptives (OCs) were investigated in healthy young adults.


METHODS
Open, prospective 2-week study.


METHODS
Clinical research centre, university hospital.


METHODS
Three groups of healthy young adults were included: six men, six women with normal menstrual cycles, and six women taking OCs.


METHODS
The subjects were given recombinant human GH subcutaneously for 2 weeks: 1 U m-2 body surface daily during the first week, and 3 U m-2 daily during the second week.


METHODS
Serum samples were drawn in the morning after overnight fasting on days 0, 3, 7, 10 and 14, and were analysed for GH, insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), insulin, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), lipids and markers of bone metabolism. Second-void morning urine was analysed for deoxypyridinoline (Dpyr).


RESULTS
During administration of GH, serum IGF-1 increased in the men and in the women without OCs (86 and 52%, respectively). In the OC women, IGF-1 did not change significantly. Serum insulin increased in all three groups, with the largest change (122%) in the men and the smallest (47%) in the OC women. Blood glucose was unchanged. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and the LDL/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio were reduced in the men only. Biochemical markers of bone resorption (serum procollagen type I, urinary Dpyr) increased in the men, and markers of bone formation (serum osteocalcin and telopeptide of collagen type I) increased in the men as well as in the women not taking OCs. The testosterone/SHBG ratio increased in the men on account of a reduction in SHBG.


CONCLUSIONS
The response to short-term administration of GH differed in the three groups, with the largest effect in the men and the smallest in the OC women. The inhibitory influence of contraceptives underlines the role of sex steroids in modulating the susceptibility to GH.
Edén Engström
B
B
Department of Medical Sciences, Internal Medicine, and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital, Uppsala, Sweden. Britt.Eden_Engstrom@medsci.uu.se
Burman
P
P
Johansson
A G
AG
Wide
L
L
Karlsson
F A
FA
D000328:Adult; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000652:urine; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000378:metabolism; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000032:analysis; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D015675:Osteocalcin / Q000097:blood; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000032:analysis; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
D000596:Amino Acids; D003271:Contraceptive Agents, Female; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral; D007328:Insulin; D008055:Lipids; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D015675:Osteocalcin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; C036020:deoxypyridinoline; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase