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Ghrelin Suppresses Secretion of Luteinizing Hormone in Humans

Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry, 80804 Munich, Germany

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Dr. Michael Kluge, Max-Planck Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstrasse 2-10, 80804 Munich, Germany. E-mail: kluge{at}mpipsykl.mpg.de.

Context: Ghrelin affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in various nonhuman mammalians, predominantly by suppressing secretion of LH. However, for humans, no such evidence exists.

Objective: Our objective was to study the effect of ghrelin on secretion of LH and testosterone in humans.

Design, Participants, and Intervention: Nocturnal (2000–0700 h) secretion profiles of LH and testosterone were determined in 10 healthy males (25.7 ± 3.0 yr) twice, receiving 50 µg ghrelin or placebo at 2200, 2300, 2400, and 0100 h, in this single-blind, randomized, cross-over study.

Results: Ghrelin was associated with significantly (P < 0.05) lower mean plasma levels of both LH (2340–0200 h) and testosterone (0040–0300 h) than placebo. LH peak levels of the pulse after first administration of ghrelin/placebo were significantly (P = 0.014) smaller in the ghrelin (2.98 ± 1.34 mIU/ml) than in the placebo condition (4.37 ± 1.09 mIU/ml). In addition, the interval between this and the preceding peak was significantly (P = 0.010) longer in the ghrelin (255.8 ± 79.1 min) than in the placebo condition (190.8 ± 51.0 min). Significantly (P = 0.005) more LH pulses occurred with placebo (3.2 ± 0.75) than ghrelin (2.6 ± 0.7) subsequent to ghrelin/placebo administration.

Conclusions: Ghrelin caused both a delay and suppression of the amplitude of LH pulses. These findings are in accordance with those in nonhuman mammalians.

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