title: Effect of Arginine Infusion on Ghrelin Secretion in Growth Hormone Sufficient and GH Deficient Children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The physiological link between ghrelin and growth hormone (GH) has not yet been fully clarified. Furthermore, the existence of a negative feedback mechanism between growth hormone-insulin-like growth factor (GH-IGF)-I axis and ghrelin and the influence of amino acids on ghrelin secretion in children remain matters of debate.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To understand the regulation of ghrelin secretion and clarify the relationship between ghrelin and GH secretion in GH-deficient (GHD) and GH-sufficient (GHS) children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten GHD (male/female [M/F], 6/4; age [mean ± SEM], 10.7 ± 0.9 years) and 10 GHS prepubertal children (M/F, 6/4; age [mean ± SEM], 10.3 ± 0.6 years), underwent an arginine (ARG) test (infusion, 0.5 g/kg, iv). Levels of GH, total ghrelin, and acylated ghrelin (AG) were assayed every 30 min from 0 to +120 min.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peak GH values were lower in GHD subjects than in GHS subjects (P < 0.0001). The baseline levels, peak levels, or area under the curves (AUC) for total ghrelin and AG were similar between GHD and GHS children. ARG infusion was followed by a slight to significant decrease in total ghrelin levels, but not AG levels, both in GHD and GHS subjects with a nadir at +30 min. No correlation was seen between GH, total ghrelin, or AG response and ARG infusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total ghrelin and AG levels seemed unaffected by GH status in prepubertal children. ARG infusion was unable to blunt ghrelin secretion irrespective of GH status in childhood. Moreover, since ARG influences GH secretion via modulation of somatostatin release, ghrelin secretion seems to be partially refractory to somatostatin action.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatrics, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy ; Endocrinology, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy.
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Prodam
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Genoni
authors.forename: Simonetta
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellone
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Longhi
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Agarla
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bona
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Radetti
keywords: Acylated Ghrelin; Growth Hormone; Growth Hormone Deficiency