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PRESENCE OF GROWTH HORMONE-RELEASING FACTOR-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN HUMAN CEREBROSPINAL FLUID

Third Division, Department of Medicine, Kobe University School of Medicine 7-chome, Kusunoki-cho, Chuoh-ku, Kobe 650, Japan

Immunoreactive human growth hormone-releasing factor (I-hGRF) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was measured by radioimmunoassay using antiserum specific to the C-terminal portion of hGRF(1–44)NH2. Dilution curves of I-hGRF in the CSF were completely parallel to that of synthetic hGRF(1–44)NH2 standard. On Sephadex G-50 column chromatography a single peak of I-hGRF in the CSF was eluted at the position of synthetic hGRF(1–44)-NH2. I-hGRF was present in the CSF of all control patients without any endocrine disease (mean±SE, 29.3±2.0 pg/ml) whereas I-hGRF in the CSF was not detectable (less than 5.8 pg/ml) in any of the patients with hypothalamic germinoma. In all patients with idiopathic GH deficiency, I-hGRF in the CSF was measurable but its concentration (15.1±1.0 pg/ml) was significantly (p<0.05) lower than that in the control subjects. No difference in I-hGRF levels of the CSF was observed between patients with acromegaly and control subjects.

These findings demonstrate for the first time that I-hGRF is present in human CSF. Measurement of I-hGRF in the CSF may be useful for understanding the pathophysiology of hypothalamo-pituitary diseases.

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