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Actions of calcium ions and a calcium-influx blocker on basal and TRH- and GnRH-stimulated hormone release in patients with pituitary adenomas

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Abstract

We investigated the influence of calcium ions on the secretion of anterior pituitary hormones basally and in response to exogenous hypothalamic releasing factors in 6 men with pituitary tumors. To this end, concentrations of LH, FSH, TSH, growth hormone and prolactin were measured in blood collected at 10-min intervals basally and during a continuous infusion of combined TRH (2 μg/min) and GnRH (1 μg/min). Study sessions were randomized to iv saline, calcium, or diltiazem infusions or oral diltiazem administration. Our results indicate that in contrast to responses in normal men, iv calcium injections do not suppress circulating prolactin concentrations in patients with prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors. Moreover, neither oral diltiazem administration for one week nor acute iv diltiazem infusion suppressed the hyperprolactinemia of tumor patients. However, there were significant effects of drug and calcium treatments on serum concentrations of FSH, GH and testosterone, but not LH or TSH. Moreover, during GnRH-TRH stimulation, there were significant differences in LH, TSH, and testosterone responses in tumor patients compared to normal men. In summary, iv calcium infusion was associated with invariant basal release of anterior pituitary tumoral hormones in patients with pituitary adenomas. However, there were significant differences in the GnRH/TRH-stimulated release of certain anterior pituitary hormones in tumor patients compared to normal men in response to iv calcium and the calcium-channel antagonist, diltiazem.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, and Pharmacology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, 22908, USA

    M. Davis, J. L. C. Borges, C. Drake, A. D. Rogol, D. L. Kaiser, M. O. Thorner & Johannes D. Veldhuis M.D.

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Pennsylvania State University Medical School, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, University Park, PA, 17033, USA

    B. Nassberg & R. J. Santen

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Salem Veterans Administration Hospital Salem, Salem, VA, USA

    A. Iranmanesh & G. Lizzaralde

  4. Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Box 202, Charlottesvile, VA, 22908, USA

    Johannes D. Veldhuis M.D.

Authors
  1. M. Davis
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  2. B. Nassberg
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  3. J. L. C. Borges
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  4. A. Iranmanesh
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  5. G. Lizzaralde
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  6. R. J. Santen
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  7. C. Drake
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  8. A. D. Rogol
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  9. D. L. Kaiser
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  10. M. O. Thorner
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  11. Johannes D. Veldhuis M.D.
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Additional information

Visiting Fellow in the Laboratory of Dr. M.O. Thorner supported in part by CABES, Brazil.

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Davis, M., Nassberg, B., Borges, J.L.C. et al. Actions of calcium ions and a calcium-influx blocker on basal and TRH- and GnRH-stimulated hormone release in patients with pituitary adenomas. J Endocrinol Invest 10, 427–433 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03348164

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03348164

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