Pyridostigmine partially restores the GH responsiveness to GHRH in normal aging

Ghigo, Ezio; Goffi, S.; Arvat, Emanuela; Nicolosi, M; Procopio, Massimo; Bellone, J.; Imperiale, E.; Mazza, Enrico; Baracchi, G; Camanni, F.

doi:10.1530/acta.0.1230169

Cited by 52 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 40 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In fact, both PD and ARG likely act via inhibition of hypothalamic somatostatin release [7,15,16] and potentiate to the same extent the GHRH-induced GH rise from childhood to adulthood [13,15]. Interestingly, in aging the effect of PD is reduced while that of ARG is preserved [9,10,16,17], in agreement with the existence of an age-related cholinergic impairment in the presence of a preserved releasable GH pool [3,11,12,18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 58%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Further Evidence of Cholinergic Impairment of the Neuroendocrine Control of the GH Secretion in Down’s Syndrome

Beccaria¹,

Marziani²,

Manzoni³

et al. 1998

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There are data indicating that cholinergic activity is precociously impaired in Down’s syndrome (DS). On the other hand, acetylcholine as well as arginine (ARG) play a major stimulatory role in the neural control of growth hormone (GH) secretion in humans, likely acting via the inhibition of hypothalamic somatostatin release. The aim of the present study was to verify the effects of pyridostigmine (PD, 120 mg p.o.), a cholinesterase inhibitor, and ARG (0.5 g/kg i.v.) on the growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) (1 µg/kg i.v.)-induced GH rise in 15 adult patients with DS (M/F: 8/7; age 26.5 ± 2.2 years; body mass index, BMI: 25.7 ± 1.0 kg/m²) in which the potentiating effect of PD on GH secretion has been reported to be reduced. The results in DS were compared to those in 15 normal subjects (NS) (M/F: 8/7; age: 30.0 ± 1.3 years; BMI: 21.4 ± 0.4 kg/m²). Basal GH and insulin growth factor I (IGF-1) levels in DS (1.8 ± 0.7 and 206.5 ± 21.0 µg/l) were similar to those in NS (1.4 ± 0.3 and 179.4 ± 11.0 µg/l). The GH response to GHRH alone in DS (526.5 ± 120.1 µg/l/h) was lower (p < 0.05) than that recorded in NS (895.4 ± 153.7 µg/l/h). The GHRH-induced GH rise was potentiated by PD both in DS (1,138 ± 184.2 µg/l/h; p < 0.02 vs. GHRH alone) and in NS (2,213.8 ± 212.8 µg/l/h; p < 0.005 vs. GHRH alone); however, as the percent potentiating effect of PD was similar in both groups (215 and 247%, respectively) the GH response to GHRH+PD in DS was lower (p < 0.005) than that in NS. The GHRH-induced GH rise was also potentiated by ARG in both DS (2,243 ± 362.4 µg/h; p < 0.001 vs. GHRH alone) and NS (2,764.3 ± 325.7 µg/l/h; p < 0.005 vs. GHRH alone). As the percent potentiating effect of ARG in DS was more marked than in NS (425 vs. 308%, respectively), the GH response to GHRH+ARG became similar in both groups. No sex-related difference was found in the GH response to various stimuli both in DS and NS. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that the potentiating effect of PD but not that of ARG is impaired in adults with DS in whom a reduced somatotrope responsiveness to GHRH is present. These findings indicate that in DS the pituitary GH releasable pool is fully preserved while an impairment of the tuberoinfundibular cholinergic pathways could lead to somatostatinergic hyperactivity and low somatotrope responsiveness to GHRH.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 58%

“…These data suggested the existence of a precocious impairment of the central cholinergic activity in DS. However, it remains to be shown whether the pituitary GH releasable pool is preserved in DS as it has been already demonstrated in normal elderly [9][10][11][12][13] and in patients with Alzheimer's disease [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Further Evidence of Cholinergic Impairment of the Neuroendocrine Control of the GH Secretion in Down’s Syndrome

Beccaria¹,

Marziani²,

Manzoni³

et al. 1998

Dement Geriatr Cogn Disord

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…4). Arginine, but not pyridostigmine, is able to restore totally the reduced GH responsiveness to GHRH in elderly subjects, making it overlap with that in young adults (19,20 …”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

New approach to the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency in adults

Ghigo

Aimaretti

Gianotti

et al. 1996

European Journal of Endocrinology

246

156

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Cholinergic agonists, such as pyridostigmine, increase but do not restore the GH response to GHRH in aged subjects [44][45][46], suggesting the existence of an hypothalamic cholinergic hypoactivity leading to SS hyperactivity and dampened GH secretion, thus confirming the well known "cholinergic hypothesis of brain ageing" [7], Although there is evidence for a reduced central catecholaminergic activity in brain ageing [3], studies focusing on adrenergic effects on somatotroph function in elderly subjects show controversial results.…”

Section: Age-related Changes In Activity Of Gh/ Igf-i Axis: Focus On mentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Ageing and the Growth Hormone/Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I (GH/IGF-I) Axis - The Impact of Growth Factors on Dementia

Giordano¹

2012

TOEJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

There is clear evidence that human ageing is associated with reduced activity of the growth hormone (GH)/insulin-growth factor-I (IGF-I) axis, the so called "somatopause". Although this condition is likely to contribute to age-related changes in body composition, structure functions and metabolism, we are now in face of the paradox of lifelong GH/IGF-I deficiency or resistance resulting in prolonged life expectancy. This evidence questions whether GH deficiency is or is not a beneficial adaptation to ageing. On the other hand, neuroendocrine studies provided evidence that brain ageing is associated to peculiar age-related alterations in the control of GH/IGF-I axis, mostly including GHRH deficiency and SS hyperactivity, reflecting the age-related cholinergic impairment. This hormonal pattern is present in normal and demented elderly subjects, and a neuroendocrine distinction among these conditions is impossible. This review will focus on the age-related decline in the activity of GH/IGF-I axis as a function of either normal or pathological brain ageing. Particularly, the influence of GH/IGF-I axis on cognitive functions and related disorders will be discussed.

show abstract

Pyridostigmine partially restores the GH responsiveness to GHRH in normal aging

Cited by 52 publications

References 40 publications

Further Evidence of Cholinergic Impairment of the Neuroendocrine Control of the GH Secretion in Down’s Syndrome

Further Evidence of Cholinergic Impairment of the Neuroendocrine Control of the GH Secretion in Down’s Syndrome

New approach to the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency in adults

Human Ageing and the Growth Hormone/Insulin-Like Growth Factor-I (GH/IGF-I) Axis - The Impact of Growth Factors on Dementia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About