Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Calcitonin suppresses growth hormone (GH) response to growth hormone — releasing hormone (GHRH) in man

  • Comment
  • Published:
Journal of Endocrinological Investigation Aims and scope Submit manuscript

    We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

    Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

Abstract

Calcitonin (CT) receptors have been found in the hypothalamus, suggesting a neuroendocrine role for this peptide. We have recently shown that, in the rat, central administration of salmon calcitonin (sCT) suppresses basal and GHRH-stimulated GH secretion. To further investigate how sCT alters GH secretion, we studied the effects of sCT (100U MRC, im) or placebo on basal and GHRH (50μg, iv)-stimulated GH secretion in 6 normal men. GHRH was administered 1 h after sCT injection. Basal GH levels were not altered by sCT administration. However, GH response to GHRH was markedly suppressed by sCT (area under the curve — sCT: 574.6 ± 69.7 vs placebo: 1057.2 ± 284.8 μg. min/L; p < 0.02). Cortisol levels were higher in sCT-treated subjects compared to controls, from 45 to 105 min after sCT injection (p < 0.05). However, no correlation was found between GH response to GHRH and Cortisol levels. No changes in glucose, calcium and PTH levels were seen. These results demonstrate that sCT inhibits GHRH-induced GH secretion in man by a mechanism apparently independent of changes in peripheral Cortisol, glucose, calcium and PTH levels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Leicht E., Biro G., Weinges K.F. Inhibition of releasing-hormone-induced secretion of TSH and LH by calcitonin. Horm. Metab. Res. 6: 410, 1974.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Cantalamessa L., Catania A., Reschini E., Peracchi M. Inhibitory effect of calcitonin on growth hormone and insulin secretion in man. Metabolism, 27: 987, 1978.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Petralito A., Lunetta M., Liuzzo A., Mangiafico P.A., Fiore C. Effects of salmon calcitonin on insulin-induced growth hormone release in man. Horm. Metab. Res. 11: 641, 1979.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Isaac R., Merceron R., Caillens G., Raymond J.-P., Ardaillou R. Effect of calcitonin on basal and thyrotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated prolactin secretion in man. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 50: 1011, 1980.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Olgiatti V.R., Guidobono F., Luisetto G., Netti C., Bianchi C., Pecile A. Calcitonin inhibition of physiological and stimulated prolactin secretion in rats. Life Sci. 29: 585, 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Mitsuma T., Nogimori T., Chaya M. Peripheral administration of eel calcitonin inhibits thyrotropin secretion in rats. Eur. J. Pharmacol. 102: 123, 1984.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Tannenbaum G.S., Goltzman D. Calcitonin gene-related peptide mimics calcitonin action in brain on growth hormone release and feeding. Endocrinology 116: 2685, 1985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Minamitami N., Chihara K., Kaji M., Kodama H., Fujita T. Inhibitory effect of [Asu1, 7]-eel calcitonin on growth hormone secretion in conscious, freely moving, male rats. Endocrinology 117: 347, 1985.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Fisher J.A., Tobler P.H., Kaufmann M., Born W., Henke H., Cooper P.E., Sagar S.M., Martin J.B. Calcitonin: regional distribution of the hormone and its binding sites in the human brain and pituitary. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 78: 7801, 1981.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Rizzo A.J., Goltzman D. Calcitonin receptors in the central nervous system of the rat. Endocrinology 108: 1672, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Nakamuta H., Furakawa S., Koida M., Yajima H., Orlowski R.C., Schieuter R. Specific binding of 125l-salmon calcitonin to rat brain: regional variation and calcitonin specificity. Jpn. J. Pharmacol. 31: 53, 1981.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Deftos L.J., Burton D., Catherwood B.D., Bone H.G., Parthermore J.G., Guillemin R., Watkins W.B., Moore R.Y. Demonstration by immunoperoxidase histochemistry of calcitonin in the anterior lobe of the rat pituitary. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 47: 457, 1978.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lengyel A.-MJ, Tannenbaum G.S. Mechanisms of calcitonin-induced growth hormone suppression: roles of somatostatin and GH-releasing factor. Endocrinology 120: 1377, 1987.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Vieira J.G.H., Oliveira M.A.D., Maciel R.M.B., Mesquita C.H., Russo E.M.K. Development of an homologous radioimmunoassay for the synthetic amino terminal (1–34) fragment of human parathyroid hormone using egg yolk — obtained antibodies. J. Immunoassay 7: 57, 1986.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Vieira J.G.H., Russo E.M.K., Germek O.A., Antunes L.N. Radioimmunoassay of serum Cortisol. Rev. Bras. Patol. Clin. 15: 125, 1979.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Ziegler R., Bellwinkel S., Schmidtchen D., Minne H. Effects of hypercalcemia, hypocalcemia and calcitonin on glucose stimulated insulin secretion in man. Horm. Metab. Res. 4: 60, 1972.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Masuda A., Shibasaki T., Nakahara M., Imaki T., Kiyosawa Y., Jibiki K., Demura H., Shizume K., Ling N. The effects of glucose on growth hormone-releasing hormone-mediated GH secretion in man. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 60: 523, 1985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Press M, Tamborlane W.V., Thorner M.O., Vale W., Rivier J., Gertner J.M., Sherwin R.S. Pituitary response to growth hormone — releasing factor in diabetes. Failure of glucose — mediated suppression. Diabetes 33: 804, 1984.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Zofkova I, Hampl. R., Nedvidkova J. Effect of calcitonin on blood levels of glucose, insulin, somatotropin and Cortisol. Horm. Metab. Res. 16: 499, 1984.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Laurian L., Oberman Z., Graf. E., Hoerer E., Simantov R. Calcitonin induced increase in ACTH, β-endorphin and Cortisol secretion. Horm. Metab. Res. 18: 268, 1986.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Smals A.E.M., Pieters G.F.F.M., Smals AGH, Benraad Th.J., Kloppenborg P.W.C. Human pancreatic growth hormone releasing hormone fails to stimulate human growth hormone both in Cushing’s disease and in Cushing’s syndrome due to adrenocortical adenoma. Clin. Endocrinol. (Oxf.) 24: 401, 1986.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Nakagawa K., Akikawa K., Matsubara M., Kubo M. Effect of dexamethasone on growth hormone response to growth hormone releasing hormone in acromegaly. J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 60: 306, 1985.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Minamitami N., Chihara K., Iwasaki J., Matsukura S., Fujita T. Attenuation by hypocalcemia of pulsatile growth hormone secretion in conscious male rats. Neuroendocrinology 35: 405, 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Reel J.R., Pastushok C.A., Vaitkus J.W., Sakowski R., Dermody W.C. Lack of a direct effect of salmon calcitonin on luteinizing hormone and thyrotropin release in anterior pituitary cell cultures. J. Endocrinol. 72: 99, 1977.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Van Houten M., Rizzo A.J., Goltzman D., Posner B.I. Brain receptors for blood-borne calcitonin in rats: circumventricular localization and vasopressin-resistant deficiency in hereditary diabetes insipidus. Endocrinology 111: 704, 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Douglas W.W., Poisner A.M. Stimulus-secretion coupling in a neurosecretory organ: the role of calcium in the release of vasopressin from neurohypophysis. J. Physiol. (Lond) 172: 1, 1964.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Rubin R.P. The role of calcium in the release of neurotransmitter substances and hormones. Pharmacol. Rev. 22: 389, 1970.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Rasmussen H. Ionic and hormonal control of calcium homeostasis. Am. J. Med. 50: 567, 1971.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Escola Paulista de Medicina, CP 20266 - 04023, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil

    Ana-Maria J. Lengyel, A. L. G. Toledo, M. A. Czepielewski, J. G. H. Vieira & A. R. Chacra

Authors
  1. Ana-Maria J. Lengyel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. A. L. G. Toledo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. A. Czepielewski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. G. H. Vieira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. A. R. Chacra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq) and Fundaçao de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lengyel, AM.J., Toledo, A.L.G., Czepielewski, M.A. et al. Calcitonin suppresses growth hormone (GH) response to growth hormone — releasing hormone (GHRH) in man. J Endocrinol Invest 12, 25–29 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03349910

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03349910

Key-words

Search

Navigation