Altered growth hormone secretory dynamics in prepubertal males with constitutional delay of growth

• Published in: Pediatric research Vol. 33; no. 3; pp. 278 - 283
• Main Authors: KERRIGAN, J. R, MARTHA, P. M, VELDHUIS, J. D, BLIZZARD, R. M, ROGOL, A. D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hagerstown, MD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins 01.03.1993
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Body Height; Child; Endocrinopathies; Growth; Growth Disorders - blood; Growth Disorders - pathology; Growth Disorders - physiopathology; Growth Hormone - blood; Growth Hormone - secretion; Humans; Hypothalamus. Hypophysis. Epiphysis (diseases); Male; Medical sciences; Non tumoral diseases. Target tissue resistance. Benign neoplasms; Human; STH; Male; Clearance; Metabolism; Growth retardation; Endocrine secretion; Protein hormone; Deconvolution; Adenohypophyseal hormone; Pulsatile; Hormonal investigation; Child
• ISSN: 0031-3998; 1530-0447
• DOI: 10.1203/00006450-199303000-00015

We have used the technique of deconvolution analysis to determine if abnormalities in growth hormone (GH) secretion or metabolic clearance underlie the observed alterations in circulating hormone concentrations in a group of seven prepubertal males with constitutional delay of growth (SHORT-DBA). The results were compared with data obtained from 13 healthy, short prepubertal males (SHORT) and 11 healthy prepubertal male subjects of normal stature (NORMAL). Although the mean 12-h overnight GH production rates were invariant among the groups (8.0 +/- 1.0 versus 7.3 +/- 0.7 versus 6.7 +/- 1.2 micrograms/L, NORMAL versus SHORT versus SHORT-DBA for all comparisons), different secretory mechanisms were operative. The secretory burst half-duration (time interval of the secretory event at half-maximal amplitude) of the SHORT-DBA subjects (26 +/- 1 min) was greater (p = 0.02) than that of the SHORT group (20 +/- 1 min); values for both the SHORT and SHORT-DBA subjects were indistinguishable from that of NORMAL controls (22 +/- 2). Both the mass of GH released per secretory episode and the maximal rate of hormone secretion were less (p < or = 0.02 and the p < 0.01, respectively) for the SHORT-DBA subjects [16 +/- 2 micrograms/unit of body distribution volume (Lv) and 0.6 +/- 0.1 microgram/Lv/min, respectively] compared with those of the NORMAL (26 +/- 2 micrograms/L, and 1.1 +/- 0.1 micrograms/Lv/min, respectively) and SHORT (28 +/- 4 micrograms/Lv and 1.3 +/- 0.2 micrograms/Lv/min, respectively) groups; values for the latter two groups were indistinguishable.