The effects of three growth hormone secretagogues (GHSs), ghrelin, growth hormone-releasing peptide-6 (GHRP-6), and growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH), on the release of adenohypophyseal hormones, growth hormone (GH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), luteinising hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL) and on cortisol were investigated in young and old healthy Beagle dogs.Ghrelin proved to be the most potent GHS in young dogs, whereas in old dogs GHRH administration was associated with the highest plasma GH concentrations. The mean plasma GH response after administration of ghrelin was significantly lower in the old dogs compared with the young dogs. The mean plasma GH concentration after GHRH and GHRP-6 administration was lower in the old dogs compared with the young dogs, but this difference did not reach statistical significance. In both age groups, the GHSs were specific for GH release as they did not cause significant elevations in the plasma concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, TSH, LH, and PRL. It is concluded that in young dogs, ghrelin is a more powerful stimulator of GH release than either GHRH or GHRP-6. Ageing is associated with a decrease in GH-releasing capacity of ghrelin, whereas this decline is considerably lower for GHRH or GHRP-6.
This study investigated whether ghrelin, a potent releaser of growth hormone (GH) secretion, is a valuable tool in the diagnosis of canine pituitary dwarfism. The effect of intravenous administration of ghrelin on the release of GH and other adenohypophyseal hormones was investigated in German shepherd dogs with congenital combined pituitary hormone deficiency and in healthy Beagles.Analysis of the maximal increment (i.e. difference between pre-and maximal post-ghrelin plasma hormone concentration) indicated that the GH response was significantly lower in the dwarf dogs compared with the healthy dogs. In none of the pituitary dwarfs, the ghrelin-induced plasma GH concentration exceeded 5 lg/l at any time. However, this was also true for 3 healthy dogs. In all dogs, ghrelin administration did not affect the plasma concentrations of ACTH, cortisol, TSH, LH and PRL .Thus, while a ghrelin-induced plasma GH concentration above 5 lg/l excludes GH deficiency, false-negative results may occur.
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