This Article Full Text (PDF) Submit a related Letter to the Editor Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Copyright Permission Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by LANG, I. Articles by TEMPL, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by LANG, I. Articles by TEMPL, H.

Effects of Sex and Age on Growth Hormone Response to Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone in Healthy Individuals

Department of Medicine II, Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology, University of Vienna, and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Clinical Endocrinology Vienna, Austria

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Prof. G. Schernthaner, Department of Medicine II, Division of Metabolism and Endocrinology, University of Vienna, A-1090 Vienna, Garnisongasse 13, Austria.

The influence of age and sex on human GH secretion is controversial. In previous studies, serum GH responses to arginine and insulin-induced hypoglycemia were significantly higher in pre- and postovulatory women than in men. In contrast, recent studies suggest that GH responsiveness to GHRH is higher in normal young men than in age-matched women.

To clarify the question of sex and age influence on GHRH-(1–44)-stimulated GH secretion, we studied 116 normal women and men (with body mass indexes of 18–25 and 19–26, respectively) between the ages of 18 and 95 yr. The peak serum GH increments after GHRH administration were significantly higher in premenopausal women than in age-matched men (P < 0.003 for the age group 18–30 yr and P < 0.03 for the age group 30–50 yr, as assessed by analysis of variance). The responses were not different in postmenopausal women and age-matched men. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between GHRH-induced GH responses (integrated area under the curve) and age in both women (P < 0.002) and men (P < 0.001).

In addition, we determined basal serum testosterone, estradiol, cortisol, and PRL levels in all subjects. Multivariate regression analysis of the GH responses to GHRH administration revealed a significant positive correlation (P < 0.01) between serum estradiol and both GH increase and the area under the GH response curve. No correlation was found between GHRH-stimulated GH secretion and basal serum cortisol, testosterone, or PRL concentrations.

Our data clearly demonstrate a marked influence of both sex and age on GHRH-stimulated GH secretion. We found a higher GH increase in premenopausal women compared with age matched-men and an age-dependent decrease in GHRH-stimulated GH secretion in both sexes. Furthermore, in women a significant influence of estradiol on GH secretion after GHRH administration could be demonstrated.

Received December 16, 1986.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. D. Veldhuis, S. B. Hudson, D. Erickson, J. N. Bailey, G. A. Reynolds, and C. Y. Bowers Relative effects of estrogen, age, and visceral fat on pulsatile growth hormone secretion in healthy women Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, August 1, 2009; 297(2): E367 - E374. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Fanciulli, A. Delitala, and G. Delitala Growth hormone, menopause and ageing: no definite evidence for 'rejuvenation' with growth hormone Hum. Reprod. Update, May 1, 2009; 15(3): 341 - 358. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Veldhuis, M. Cosma, D. Erickson, R. Paulo, K. Mielke, L. S. Farhy, and C. Y. Bowers Tripartite Control of Growth Hormone Secretion in Women during Controlled Estradiol Repletion J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., June 1, 2007; 92(6): 2336 - 2345. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				X.-D. Qu, I. T. Gaw Gonzalo, M. Y. Al Sayed, P. Cohan, P. D. Christenson, R. S. Swerdloff, D. F. Kelly, and C. Wang Influence of Body Mass Index and Gender on Growth Hormone (GH) Responses to GH-Releasing Hormone Plus Arginine and Insulin Tolerance Tests J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., March 1, 2005; 90(3): 1563 - 1569. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. D. Veldhuis, J. T. Patrie, K. T. Brill, J. Y. Weltman, E. E. Mueller, C. Y. Bowers, and A. Weltman Contributions of Gender and Systemic Estradiol and Testosterone Concentrations to Maximal Secretagogue Drive of Burst-Like Growth Hormone Secretion in Healthy Middle-Aged and Older Adults J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., December 1, 2004; 89(12): 6291 - 6296. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Wieck, R. A. Davies, A. D. Hirst, N. Brown, A. Papadopoulos, M. N. Marks, S. A. Checkley, R. C. Kumar, and I. C. Campbell Menstrual Cycle Effects on Hypothalamic Dopamine Receptor Function in Women with a History of Puerperal Bipolar Disorder J Psychopharmacol, June 1, 2003; 17(2): 204 - 209. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. J. Woller, G. Everson-Binotto, E. Nichols, A. Acheson, K. L. Keen, C. Y. Bowers, and E. Terasawa Aging-Related Changes in Release of Growth Hormone and Luteinizing Hormone in Female Rhesus Monkeys J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., November 1, 2002; 87(11): 5160 - 5167. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. N. Dhir, W. Dworakowski, and B. H. Shapiro Middle-Age Alterations in the Sexually Dimorphic Plasma Growth Hormone Profiles: Involvement of Growth Hormone-Releasing Factor and Effects on Cytochrome P450 Expression Drug Metab. Dispos., February 1, 2002; 30(2): 141 - 147. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Wideman, J. Y. Weltman, N. Shah, S. Story, J. D. Veldhuis, and A. Weltman Effects of gender on exercise-induced growth hormone release J Appl Physiol, September 1, 1999; 87(3): 1154 - 1162. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. E. Muller, V. Locatelli, and D. Cocchi Neuroendocrine Control of Growth Hormone Secretion Physiol Rev, April 1, 1999; 79(2): 511 - 607. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Cappellin, R. Gatti, and E. F. De Palo Influence of Gender in Growth Hormone Status in Adults: Role of Urinary Growth Hormone Clin. Chem., March 1, 1999; 45(3): 443 - 444. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. Giustina and J. D. Veldhuis Pathophysiology of the Neuroregulation of Growth Hormone Secretion in Experimental Animals and the Human Endocr. Rev., December 1, 1998; 19(6): 717 - 797. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				B. E. Engstrom, F. A. Karlsson, and L. Wide Marked gender differences in ambulatory morning growth hormone values in young adults Clin. Chem., June 1, 1998; 44(6): 1289 - 1295. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. P. Ceda, E. Dall’Aglio, A. Magnacavallo, N. Vargas, V. Fontana, M. Maggio, G. Valenti, P. D. K. Lee, R. L. Hintz, and A. R. Hoffman The Insulin-Like Growth Factor Axis and Plasma Lipid Levels in the Elderly J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 1998; 83(2): 499 - 502. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				E. C. degli Uberti, M. R. Ambrosio, S. G. Cella, A. R. Margutti, G. Trasforini, A. E. Rigamonti, E. Petrone, and E. E. Muller Defective Hypothalamic Growth Hormone (GH)-Releasing Hormone Activity May Contribute to Declining GH Secretion with Age in Man J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., September 1, 1997; 82(9): 2885 - 2888. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Hornum, D. M. Cooper, J. A. Brasel, A. Bueno, and K. E. Sietsema Exercise-induced changes in circulating growth factors with cyclic variation in plasma estradiol in women J Appl Physiol, June 1, 1997; 82(6): 1946 - 1951. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Burman, A. G. Johansson, A. Siegbahn, B. Vessby, and F. A. Karlsson Growth Hormone (GH)-Deficient Men Are More Responsive to GH Replacement Therapy Than Women J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab., February 1, 1997; 82(2): 550 - 555. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Leibenluft, P. L. Fiero, and D. R. Rubinow Effects of the Menstrual Cycle on Dependent Variables in Mood Disorder Research Arch Gen Psychiatry, October 1, 1994; 51(10): 761 - 781. [Abstract] [PDF]