← Human Trials & Peer-Reviewed Studies
Alpha 2-adrenergic agonism enhances the growth hormone (GH) response to GH-releasing hormone through an inhibition of hypothalamic somatostatin release in normal men
Plain-language guide to PMID 1977761 (1990): controlled clinical trial of Somatostatin and GHRH (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone) in 10 subjects.
Key Facts
- PMID
- 1977761
- Journal
- The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism
- Year
- 1990
- Study type
- Controlled Clinical Trial
- Authors
- Devesa J et al. (5 authors)
- DOI
- 10.1210/jcem-71-6-1581
What This Study Did, in Plain Language
What Was Tested
This controlled clinical trial looks at Somatostatin and GHRH (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone).
The purpose of this study was to investigate the precise mechanism by which central alpha 2-adrenergic pathways modulate GH secretion in humans.
Why It Was Studied
In 10 normal subjects the researchers compared the pattern of clonidine-induced GH release to that elicited by GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) given at a time of presumably similar responsiveness of the somatotrope.
The researchers also evaluated the effect of stimulation by GHRH (either endogenous, by administration of clonidine, or exogenous) on the GH response to a further exogenous GHRH stimulation.
Who Took Part
The abstract describes 10 subjects taking part.
By PubMed's age tags, the people studied were teenagers and adults, both men and women.
In a further experiment the administration of clonidine at 0 min was followed by 2 GHRH challenges (60 and 180 min later).
How the Study Was Run
In design terms this was a placebo-controlled study.
Some subjects received a placebo instead of Somatostatin, giving a reference point.
What Was Measured
The researchers also evaluated the effect of stimulation by GHRH (either endogenous, by administration of clonidine, or exogenous) on the GH response to a further exogenous GHRH stimulation.
The subject headings attached to it are Clonidine, Growth Hormone, Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone, Hypothalamus, Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha and Somatostatin.
What This Means in Plain Language
The paper is a placebo-controlled study of Somatostatin and GHRH (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone) in 10 subjects.
With fewer than 40 people, it is a small study, so it is better read as an early signal for further research than as a settled answer.
The publication is from 1990 (The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism), a journal based in United States.
More context: the Somatostatin compound page and the GHRH (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone) compound page, all human trials.
Our Notes on the Compounds
Somatostatin: A 14-amino-acid hormone that switches off the release of several other hormones, including growth hormone and insulin.
GHRH (Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone): The 44-amino-acid hypothalamic hormone that tells the pituitary to release growth hormone; sermorelin and tesamorelin are analogs.
Related Pages
Source: PubMed record. This explanation is written by PeptideWhiz from the public record. For research and education only. Not medical advice; no dosing information is given.