All issues > Volume 34(4); 1991

Original Article

J Korean Pediatr Soc. 1991;34(4):544-552. Published online April 30, 1991.

The mechanism of Arginine-stimulated growth hormone secretion.

Wan Kyu Lee¹, Dong Goo Lee¹, Duk Hi Kim¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Yonsei University, College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea

Received: September 4, 1990;  Accepted: October 29, 1990.

Abstract

Although Arginine is widely used in the evaluation of growth hormone (GH) secretion in short stature patient, the mechanism of action is unclear, yet. To elucidate how Arginine stimulate GH secretion, we studied the interaction of Arginine with growth homrone releasing hormone (GHRH) on GH secretion in GH deficient short stature patient and constitutional growth delay. The results of the studies were as follows: 1) Peak GH response to Arginine, GHRH, Arginie with GHRH group was 4.98±2.39,11.62±3.32, 25.71±10.36ng/ml respectively. The GH AUC (area under curve) of Arginine, GHRH, Arginine with GHRH group was 459.94±247.49, 699.99±247.40,1446.49±499.94ng/ml x min. each other. The peak GH response and AUC were significantly higher in Arginine with GHRH group than other groups. 2) Serum somatostatin level was significantly lower in Arginine with GHRH group than Arginine, GHRH groups. In conclusion, we suggest that Arginine stimulate GH by inhibition of endogenous somatostatin rather than by stimulating endogenous GHRH release.

Keywords :Arginine;Growth hormone;Growth hormone releasing hormone;Somatostatin