title: Effects of alprazolam, a benzodiazepine, on the ACTH-, GH- and PRL-releasing activity of hexarelin, a synthetic peptidyl GH secretagogue (GHS), in patients with simple obesity and in patients with Cushing's disease.
abstract: GH secretagogues (GHS) possess potent GH-releasing activity but also stimulate PRL, ACTH and cortisol (F) secretion. To further clarify the endocrine activities of GHS, in 9 obese patients, 9 patients with Cushing's disease and 14 controls we studied the ACTH, F, GH and PRL responses to hexarelin (HEX, 2.0 micrograms/kg i.v.), a peptidyl GHS, alone and preceeded by alprazolam (ALP, 0.02 mg/kg p.o.), a benzodiazepine. The HEX-induced ACTH response in controls was similar to that in obese patients (delta peak: 9.9 +/- 1.9 and 24.7 +/- 7.6 ng/L, respectively) and both were lower (p < 0.002) than that in Cushing's patients (peak: 210.7 +/- 58.4 ng/L). The GH response to HEX in controls (peak: 58.1 +/- 10.3 x g/L) was higher (p < 0.001) than those in obese and Cushing's patients (18.2 +/- 3.8 and 12.6 +/- 5.4 x g/L, respectively) which, in turn, were similar. The PRL responses to HEX in controls, obese and Cushing's patients (peak: 11.9 +/- 1.6, 18.0 +/- 4.5 and 12.4 +/- 1.4 x g/L, respectively) were similar. In controls the HEX-induced ACTH response was abolished by ALP (peak: 8.6 +/- 2.4 vs 28.0 +/- 6.7 ng/L, p < 0.03) which, on the other hand, only blunted that in obese (peak: 12.7 +/- 2.1 vs 42.4 +/- 8.4 ng/L, p < 0.02) and did not modify that in Cushing's patients (205.6 +/- 55.4 vs 175.9 +/- 47.6 ng/L). ALP blunted the GH response to HEX in controls (peak: 31.0 +/- 7.1 x g/L, p < 0.03) while did not modify those in obese and in Cushing's patients (14.5 +/- 5.3 and 13.3 +/- 11.1 x g/L, respectively). ALP did not modify the HEX-induced PRL response in controls, obese and Cushing's patients (peak: 13.8 +/- 0.9, 16.3 +/- 2.4 and 19.2 +/- 1.1 x g/L, respectively). In conclusion, alprazolam inhibits the ACTH response to hexarelin in normal and obese subjects while fails to modify the exaggerated ACTH response in Cushing's Disease suggesting that GHS activate the HPA axis via the hypothalamus in normal and obese subjects but not in patients with Cushing's disease. Alprazolam is also able to blunt the GH-releasing activity of hexarelin in normal subjects but not the low GH response to the hexapeptide in obese and Cushing's patients. The PRL-releasing activity of hexarelin in controls, obese and hypercortisolemic patients is similar and is not modified by alprazolam pretreatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University of Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grottoli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Arvat
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gauna
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maccagno
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ramunni
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maccario
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Deghenghi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ghigo
mesh_terms: D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D000525:Alprazolam / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000494:pharmacology; D003480:Cushing Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D009842:Oligopeptides; C086184:hexarelin; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D011388:Prolactin; D003346:Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D000525:Alprazolam