Document Detail


Absent growth hormone response to L-tryptophan in acromegaly.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  429511     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
In acromegaly, regulation of GH secretion by dopamine pathways appears to be qualitatively abnormal. To determine whether regulation of GH secretion by serotonin pathways is also abnormal in acromegaly, we administered L-tryptophan (5 g orally), the initial precursor of serotonin, to 10 patients with active acromegaly (9 treated and 1 untreated), 3 patients with cured acromegaly, and 8 normal subjects. The normal group showed a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in serum GH after L-tryptophan [peak value, 12.3 +/- 4.0 (se) ng/ml], though the magnitude of the response was highly variable. In contrast, subjects with active acromegaly did not show an increase in serum GH after L-tryptophan [mean integrated percentage change in serum GH, -25 +/- 25% (SE); P = NS]. One patient whose acromegaly had been surgically cured did show a GH rise after L-tryptophan. In acromegaly, the GH response to L-tryptophan is absent, suggesting that regulation of GH secretion by serotonin pathways might be qualitatively abnormal.
Authors:
A R Glass; M Schaaf; R C Dimond
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism     Volume:  48     ISSN:  0021-972X     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab.     Publication Date:  1979 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  1979-06-26     Completed Date:  1979-06-26     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0375362     Medline TA:  J Clin Endocrinol Metab     Country:  UNITED STATES    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  664-6     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Acromegaly / blood*
Adult
Female
Growth Hormone / blood*
Humans
Kinetics
Male
Middle Aged
Reference Values
Tryptophan / diagnostic use*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
73-22-3/Tryptophan; 9002-72-6/Growth Hormone

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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