GROWTH HORMONE RESPONSE TO PROSTAGLANDIN E2

Abstract
C[cyclic]AMP causes release of growth hormone [GH] from the pituitary. Prostaglandin [PG] increases pituitary adenylate cyclase and cAMP and therefore acts as a GH-releasing hormone. Using PGE2 (30 .mu.g/k body wt) given i.v. there was no growth hormone response to insulin hypoglycemia when PGE2 failed to evoke a response. In 6 of 18 patients unresponsive to insulin hypoglycemia a significant rise in GH was obtained from PGE2. In these 6 patients hypothalamic unresponsiveness to hypoglycemia must be operative whereas PGE2 acting directly at pituitary level is likely to have caused the release of preformed GH from the pituitary. Administration of PGE2 does not cause hypoglycemia but rather a slight rise in the plasma glucose level. The risk of brain damage which is inherent in the insulin hypoglycemia test is avoided.