title: Growth hormone secretion after testosterone administration to men with visceral obesity.
abstract: Visceral obesity in men has been reported to be characterized by low testosterone (T) and insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations, the latter suggesting a relative growth hormone (GH) deficiency. Since T and GH-secretions are interrelated, men with visceral obesity were substituted with T for 14 days, and diurnal secretion pattern of GH as well as IGF-I concentrations, and metabolic variables were followed. Visceral obese men were characterized by a decreased total GH secretion and diminished peak amplitude, size, and number. T-substitution was followed by elevation of IGF-I levels. The IGF-I increase correlated with the elevation of T-concentration, and was most pronounced in men with the lowest concentrations of free T from the outset. There were no detectable changes in total quantity, amplitude, size or number of peaks of GH secretion. Glucose, chlolesterol and triglycerides as well as diastolic blood pressure decreased. There were no changes in thyroid or hematology variables. T-substitution of visceral obese men is followed by an elevation of IGF-I concentrations. It is suggested that this might be due either to minor, non-detectable increases in GH secretion, or to direct effects of T on IGF-I concentrations. The regulatory mechanisms by which T-administration are leading to metabolic and anthropometric improvements, might be direct effects of T, with or without mediation via GH secretion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Sahlgren's Hospital, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mårin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rosmond
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Bengtsson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Björntorp
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin / Q000378:metabolism; D013739:Testosterone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013963:Thyroid Hormones / Q000097:blood; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D012738:Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin; D013963:Thyroid Hormones; D014280:Triglycerides; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D013739:Testosterone; D004958:Estradiol; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I; D002784:Cholesterol