title: Effect of testosterone on n-methyl-d, l-aspartate-induced growth hormone secretion in male swine.
abstract: Previous research from our laboratory demonstrated that n-methyl-d, l-aspartate (NMA), a potent agonist of glutamate, increased growth hormone (GH) secretion in barrows and boars. To determine if testosterone modulates NMA-induced GH secretion, Poland China x Yorkshire swine were challenged with NMA in a model that compared GH responses in boars with those of barrows or barrows treated with testosterone propionate (TP). Boars and barrows weighing 112.6+/-1.4 kg (mean +/- SE) were fitted with indwelling jugular vein catheters. Barrows (n = 16) were given i.m. injections of TP (25 mg in corn oil) twice daily from d 0 to d 6. Boars (n = 16) and control barrows (n = 15) received twice daily injections of corn oil. On d 6, blood was sampled every 15 min for 4 h. Two h after sampling began, all animals received an i.v. injection of NMA at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg body weight. Mean testosterone concentrations (ng/ml serum) were similar (P > .1) for boars (8.1+/-0.8) and barrows receiving TP (7.3+/-0.3), but were greater in both cases (P < .05) than for barrows receiving corn oil (.2+/-.01). Prior to NMA injections, mean GH concentrations were similar (P > .1) among groups and averaged 2.7+/-.2 ng/ml serum across treatments. Serum concentrations of GH after NMA increased (P < .05) similarly among groups and averaged 6.3+/-0.3 ng/ml across treatments during the 2-h period after injection. These results were not supportive of a role for testosterone as a modulator of NMA-induced GH secretion in male swine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agriculture, University of Maryland Eastern Shore, Princess Anne 21853, USA.
authors.forename: K V
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: McElwain
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Estienne
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Barb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013552:Swine; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D013739:Testosterone; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D013006:Growth Hormone