Human Reproduction, Vol. 14, No. 11, 2704-2708,
November 1999
© 1999 European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology
Growth hormone response to thyrotrophin releasing hormone in women with polycystic ovarian syndrome
1 Department of Endocrinology, PANAGIA Hospital, Thessaloniki, Departments of 2 Biological Chemistry and 3 Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Ioannina and 4 Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Thessalia, Larissa, Greece
Recent clinical studies have suggested that women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) may have disturbances of growth hormone (GH) kinetics and the GH/insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I system. The knowledge that in various metabolic abnormalities there is a paradoxical sensitivity of pituitary somatotrophs to thyrotrophinreleasing hormone (TRH) administration led to this investigation of the GH secretory response to TRH in women with PCOS. Twenty-four women with PCOS and 18 control women were studied. TRH was given as a single i.v. injection (time 0) and blood samples for GH measurements were obtained at 15, 0, 15, 30, 60 and 90 min. The GH responses were expressed as the area under the curve (AUC) or the differences from the basal value (
max). The GH response to TRH (mean ± SEM) was greater in women with PCOS (
max 2.47 ± 1.73 versus 0.47 ± 0.06 ng/ml, P < 0.05 and GH AUC 8.05 ± 2.10 versus 2.58 ± 0.18 ng/ml/90 min, P < 0.05). According to GH response to TRH, two PCOS subgroups were identified: (i) normal responders (n = 14) who showed
max GH response (0.36 ± 0.06 ng/ml)and GH AUC (1.93 ± 0.64 ng/ml/90 min) similar to that in the controls and (ii) over-responders (n ± 10) who showed a paradoxical increase in GH concentrations in response to TRH (
max GH response 5.43 ± 1.27 ng/ml and GH AUC 16.62 ± 3.51 ng/ml per 90 min) that was significantly higher than in normally responding PCOS patients (P < 0.0001) or in controls (P < 0.0001). These data demonstrate an enhanced GH response to TRH administration in a subgroup of women with PCOS.
Key words: growth hormone/insulin/insulin-like growth factor-I/polycystic ovarian syndrome/thyrotrophin releasing hormone
To whom correspondence should be addressed
![]()
CiteULike
Connotea
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
D. Glintborg, R. K. Stoving, C. Hagen, A. P. Hermann, J. Frystyk, J. D. Veldhuis, A. Flyvbjerg, and M. Andersen Pioglitazone Treatment Increases Spontaneous Growth Hormone (GH) Secretion and Stimulated GH Levels in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., October 1, 2005; 90(10): 5605 - 5612. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J.S. Cunha-Filho, J.L. Gross, N.A. Lemos, E.C. Dias, D. Vettori, C.A. Souza, and E.P. Passos Prolactin and growth hormone secretion after thyrotrophin-releasing hormone infusion and dopaminergic (DA2) blockade in infertile patients with minimal/mild endometriosis Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2002; 17(4): 960 - 965. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||

