Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol 76, 374-377, Copyright © 1993 by Endocrine Society

ARTICLES

Pyridostigmine potentiates growth hormone (GH)-releasing hormone- induced GH release in both men and women

E Arvat, M Cappa, FF Casanueva, C Dieguez, E Ghigo, M Nicolosi, R Valcavi and M Zini
Department of Clinical Pathophysiology, University of Turin, Italy.

It has been recently reported that pyridostigmine (PD), an indirect cholinergic agonist, probably acting via inhibition of hypothalamic somatostatin, potentiates the GH-releasing hormone (GHRH)-induced GH rise in men, but not in women. The aim of this study was to verify the sex-related, if any, GH response to GHRH (1 microgram/kg, i.v., as a bolus) both alone and preceded by two different doses of PD (120 mg, group A, and 60 mg, group B, given orally 60 min before GHRH) in a large group of volunteers (36 women, aged 18-35 yr, and 48 men, aged 18- 35 yrs). In group A, 120 mg oral PD potentiated the GH response to GHRH in both men [area under the curve (AUC), 2579.3 +/- 264.5 vs. 806.2 +/- 99.7 micrograms/L.h; P < 0.00001] and women (AUC, 2273.2 +/- 248.7 vs. 792.6 +/- 72.7 micrograms/L.h; P < 0.00001). Similarly, in the group B, 60 mg oral PD potentiated the GH response to GHRH in both men (AUC, 1929.6 +/- 157.2 vs. 568.2 +/- 81.3 micrograms/L.h; P < 0.01) and in women (AUC, 1655.9 +/- 146.9 vs. 738.2 +/- 105.7 micrograms/L.h; P < 0.01). The GH responses to GHRH, both alone and after 120 and 60 mg oral PD, did not significantly differ in men and women. No sex-related difference was observed in the cholinergic side-effects (mild abdominal pain and muscle fasciculations) that occurred in nearly 30% of the subjects. In conclusion, our results clearly show that there is no sex- related difference in the potentiating effect of PD on GHRH-induced GH release, ruling out the suggestion that women have increased cholinergic activity, leading to reduced somatostatinergic tone.

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