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Combined pituitary function-test with four hypothalamic releasing hormones

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Summary

Anterior pituitary function was investigated in ten healthy subjects by administering a combination of 200 µg thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), 100 µg gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), 100 µg growth hormone releasing factor (GRF1–44), and 100 µg human corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). The same test protocol was performed in all subjects after pretreatment with 0.25 mg terguride. Five subjects were tested only with TRH and GnRH, five only with CRF, and six only with GRF. There was a prompt increase in all hormones after the administration of the four releasing hormones (RH). Pretreatment with terguride lowered the prolactin (PRL) increase (p<0.01) as well as the thyrotropin (TSH) peak (p<0.05) compared with the test without dopamine agonist pretreatment. The PRL levels after combined RH administration were significantly higher than after TRH and GnRH alone. Although four of the five subjects had higher TSH levels after combined RH administration than after TRH and GnRH alone, the difference was not significant. Other hormones were not significantly influenced by the combined RH administration or dopamine agonist pretreatment. Despite the fact that the interaction of the different releasing hormones and dopamine agonists influences the pituitary hormone response, combined RH administration seems to be a useful test for evaluating pituitary function also in patients receiving dopamine agonist therapy.

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Abbreviations

ACTH:

Adrenocorticotropic hormone

CRF:

Human corticotropin releasing factor

DA:

Dopamine

FSH:

Follicle-stimulating hormone

GH:

Human growth hormone

GnRH:

Gonadotropin releasing hormone

GRF; GRF1–44 :

Growth hormone releasing factor

LH:

Luteinizing hormone

PRL:

Prolactin

RH:

Releasing hormone (s)

RIA:

Radioimmunoassay

SE:

Standard error

TRH:

Thyrotropin releasing hormone

TSH:

Thyrotropin

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medizinische Klinik Innenstadt, Universität München, Germany

    J. Schopohl, M. Losa, A. König, O. A. Müller, G. K. Stalla & K. von Werder

Authors
  1. J. Schopohl
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  2. M. Losa
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  3. A. König
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  4. O. A. Müller
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  5. G. K. Stalla
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  6. K. von Werder
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Supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (We 439/5-1 and Mu 585/2-2).

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Schopohl, J., Losa, M., König, A. et al. Combined pituitary function-test with four hypothalamic releasing hormones. Klin Wochenschr 64, 314–318 (1986). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01711949

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01711949

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