Growth hormone treatment affects brain neurotransmitters and thyroxine

Studies were conducted to evaluate the effects of s.c. injected recombinant human growth hormone (GH) on the expression of the gene transcript of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunits type 1 (NR1), type 2A (NR2A), and type 2B (NR2B) in the male rat hippocampus. The GH-induced effects on the expression of hippocampal gene transcripts of GH receptor (GHR) and GH-binding protein were also examined. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, kept in four groups of two different ages, was treated with the hormone or saline during 10 days before decapitation and tissue dissection. Brain tissues collected were analyzed for mRNA content by using the Northern blot technique. The results indicated that in adult young rats (11 weeks of age) the hormone elicited a decrease in the mRNA expression of NR1 but an increase in that of the NR2B subunit. In elderly adult rats (57-67 weeks of age) GH induced an increase in the expression of the hippocampal message for NR1 and NR2A. Meanwhile, the hormone induced a significant up-regulation of the GHR transcript in hippocampus of adult young rats but not in elderly adult rats. It was further found that a significant positive correlation exists between the level of GHR mRNA and the expression of the NR2B subunit transcript in adult young rats. The GH-induced increase in the expression of hippocampal mRNA for the NR2B subunit is compatible with a previously observed memory promoting effect seen for the hormone, because overexpression of this N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit is shown to enhance cognitive capabilities.

show abstract

“…injections of GH (12,13). In one of these studies a dose-dependent increase in cerebrospinal fluid GH concentrations was confirmed (13).…”

mentioning

confidence: 75%

“…In one of these studies a dose-dependent increase in cerebrospinal fluid GH concentrations was confirmed (13). Further evidence for brain cells being targets for GH actions has emerged from the identification of specific receptors for the hormone in the brain (14,15).…”

mentioning

confidence: 77%

Growth hormone induces age-dependent alteration in the expression of hippocampal growth hormone receptor and N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor subunits gene transcripts in male rats

Grevès

Steensland²,

Grevès³

et al. 2002

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

111

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Other scientific approaches to this question provide supportive evidence that GH has direct effects on the CNS, affecting sleep patterns and the CSF concentrations of various neurotransmitters. The atypical nature of the depression, and the observation that GHD and its treatment does not alter CSF levels of 5HT or NE metabolites (3,4), suggests that these symptoms may not be readily amenable to conventional antidepressant medication. The results of our study suggest that patients with GH deficiency and impaired QOL and/or atypical depression should be given a trial of GH therapy, and that the effects of treatment can be gauged after only a few months.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Growth hormone treatment of GHDAs reduces the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of vasoactive intestinal peptide and of the dopamine metabolite, homovanillic acid (3,4), and may increase the CSF concentration of beta-endorphin (4) (although some researchers have found no effect (3)). However, GHD does not seem to alter the CSF levels of 5-hydroxytryptophan (5HT) or norepinephrine (NE) metabolites (3,4), which are usually thought to be the most significant monoamines in depression. Blunting of the GH response to provocation tests has been reported as a feature of major depression in non-GH deficient patients (5 -7).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atypical depression in growth hormone deficient adults, and the beneficial effects of growth hormone treatment on depression and quality of life

Mahajan

Crown²,

Checkley³

et al. 2004

European Journal of Endocrinology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: Some growth hormone deficient adults (GHDAs) have an impaired quality of life, which may improve with growth hormone (GH) treatment. The objective of our study was to make an in-depth psychiatric evaluation of patients with adult-onset (AO) and childhood-onset (CO) GH deficiency (GHD), and to assess the time course of changes in their quality of life and symptoms of depression in response to GH treatment. Design: The study design was a 4-month, double-blind, cross-over, placebo-controlled trial of GH therapy. Methods: We used a detailed psychiatric interview to characterise 25 patients with proven GHD at baseline. They were reassessed at monthly intervals during treatment with GH or placebo, using the Nottingham Health Profile and two well-recognised depression rating scales. Results: 11/18 (61%) of the patients with AO-GHD, but 0/7 of the patients with CO-GHD, were found to have atypical depression at baseline. There were significant improvements in the depression rating scale scores after 2 months of GH therapy, with significant improvements in emotional reaction and social isolation scores from 1 month, and in energy levels and sleep disturbance from 2 and 3 months respectively. Conclusions:The results of our study confirm that a large proportion of GHDAs have unequivocal psychiatric morbidity, and suggest that a response to treatment can be seen after a short trial of GH therapy. We hypothesise that this rapid improvement of symptoms of atypical depression represents a direct central effect of GH therapy.European Journal of Endocrinology 151 325-332

show abstract

“…Le Greves et al (30) suggested that GH induced the gene expression of hippocampal N-methyld-aspartate receptor in rats, coinciding with improved learning and memory capabilities. The possibility that the hormone itself may pass the blood-brain barrier is supported by several studies (31). The GH-binding receptor has been identified in the brains of humans and rats (32).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 64%

Effect of Dietary ^|^gamma;-Aminobutyric Acid on the Nerve Growth Factor and the Choline Acetyltransferase in the Cerebral Cortex and Hippocampus of Ovariectomized Female Rats

Tujioka

Thanapreedawat

Yamada

et al. 2014

J Nutr Sci Vitaminol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary The brain protein synthesis and the plasma concentration of growth hormone (GH) is sensitive to the dietary g-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in ovariectomized female rats; however, the role of dietary GABA on biomarkers including nerve growth factor (NGF) and choline acetyltransferase for the function of cholinergic neurons remains unknown in ovariectomized female rats. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the dietary GABA affects the concentration and mRNA level of NGF, and the activity of choline acetyltransferase in the brains of ovariectomized female rats. Experiments were done on two groups of 24-wk-old ovariectomized female rats given 0 or 0.5% GABA added to a 20% casein diet. The concentrations of NGF and activities of choline acetyltransferase in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, and mRNA level of NGF in the hippocampus increased significantly with the 20% casein10.5% GABA compared with the 20% casein diet alone. In the hippocampus, the mRNA level of NGF significantly correlated with the NGF concentration (r50. 714, p,0.01). These results suggest that the administration of GABA to ovariectomized female rats is likely to control the mRNA level and concentration of NGF and cause an increase in the activity of choline acetyltransferase in the brains.

show abstract

Growth hormone treatment affects brain neurotransmitters and thyroxine

Cited by 121 publications

References 22 publications

Growth hormone induces age-dependent alteration in the expression of hippocampal growth hormone receptor and N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor subunits gene transcripts in male rats

Growth hormone induces age-dependent alteration in the expression of hippocampal growth hormone receptor and N -methyl- d -aspartate receptor subunits gene transcripts in male rats

Atypical depression in growth hormone deficient adults, and the beneficial effects of growth hormone treatment on depression and quality of life

Effect of Dietary ^|^gamma;-Aminobutyric Acid on the Nerve Growth Factor and the Choline Acetyltransferase in the Cerebral Cortex and Hippocampus of Ovariectomized Female Rats

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About