Abstract
The regulation of growth hormone (GH) secretion in humans is a complex entity involving primary regulators and secondary modifiers that influence both the amount and pattern of GH release. The primary regulators are the hypothalamic hormones: somatostatin (SRIH) and growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH). Some of the known modulators of GH release include gonadal steroid concentrations, body composition (weight), ingestion of food, age, and physical exercise. The importance of GH in the adult is now being recognized as influencing muscle mass, muscle strength, and nutrient utilization. With the discovery of GHRH and growth hormone releasing peptides (GHRPs), several issues have arisen regarding the feasibility and advisability of increasing GH secretion in adults. The primary issues are (i) Is the pattern of exposure to GH important in maximizing its effects? (ii) Is continuous exposure to GH harmful? and (iii) Is it possible to effect pulsatile growth hormone secretion with the use of GHRH or a GHRP?
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Rivier J, Spiess J, Thorner MO, Vale W. Characterization of a growth hormone-releasing factor from a human pancreatic islet tumour. Nature 1982;300:276–8.
Guillemin R, Brazeau P, Böhlen P, Esch F, Ling N, Wehrenberg WB. Growth hormone-releasing factor from a human pancreatic tumor that caused acromegaly. Science 1982;585–7.
Thorner MO, Rogol AD, Blizzard RM, et al. Acceleration of growth rate in growth hormone-deficient children treated with human growth hormone-releasing hormone. Pediatr Res 1988;24:145–51.
Vance ML, Kaiser DL, Martha PM, et al. Lack of in vivo desensitization or depletion after 14 days of continuous GHRH administration in normal man and a growth hormone deficient boy. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1989;68:22–8.
Bowers CY, Momany FA, Reynolds GA, Hong A. On the in vitro and in vivo activity of a new synthetic hexapeptide that acts on the pituitary to specifically release growth hormone. Endocrinology 1984;114:1537–45.
Bowers CY, Reynolds GA, Durham D, Barrera CM, Pezzoli SS, Thorner MO. Growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide stimulates GH release in normal men and acts synergistically with GH-releasing hormone. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1990;70:75–82.
Hartman ML, Giovannie F, Pezzoli SS, Thorner MO. Oral administration of growth hormone (GH)-releasing peptide stimulates GH secretion in normal men. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1992;74:1378–83.
DeBell WK, Pezzoli SS, Thorner MO. Growth hormone (GH) secretion during continuous infusion of GH-releasing peptide: partial response attenuation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1991;72:1312–6.
Aloi JA, Thorner MO, Vance ML. Interaction of growth hormone releasing hormone and growth hormone releasing peptide in normal men. Clin Res 1992;40:145A.
Kirk SE, Aloi JA, Gertz BJ, et al. L-692,429, a substituted benzolactam with GHRP-like activity, stimulates GH secretion in obese young men [Abstract]. Endocr Soc 1993:332A.
Aloi JA, Huhn WC, Gertz BJ, et al. GH response to L-692,429, a substituted benzolactam which mimics GHRP, is greater than the response to GHRH in older persons. Clin Res 1993;41:2.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1995 Springer Science+Business Media New York
About this paper
Cite this paper
Vance, M.L., Aloi, J.A., Hartman, M.L., Kirk, S.E., Thorner, M.O. (1995). Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone and Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides. In: Blackman, M.R., Roth, J., Harman, S.M., Shapiro, J.R. (eds) GHRH, GH, and IGF-I. Serono Symposia USA. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0807-5_3
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4612-0807-5_3
Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Print ISBN: 978-1-4612-6908-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-4612-0807-5
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive