Effects of pulsatile delivery of basal growth hormone on lipolysis in humans

Eugenio Cersosimo, Fotini Danou, Mai Persson, John M. Miles

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

Growth hormone (GH) excess stimulates lipolysis, but its role in the hierarchy of lipolysis regulation is not clear. We studied whether pulsatile GH delivery is required for its lipolytic effect. With use of the pancreatic clamp, eight subjects were randomized to three protocols: protocol A, GH deficiency; protocol B, constant GH infusion; protocol C, pulsatile GH delivery (same total GH as protocol B). Pulsatile GH was given in four consecutive bursts, with symmetric peak width (60 min), amplitude of 10.7/men) and 15 (women) ng·kg-1 ·min-1, and peak width at half-height of 15 min. Palmitate flux (PF) was measured at baseline and in the last hour of each study with [3H]palmitate. GH (ng/ml) decreased from -3.5 to 2.0 in protocol A (P < 0.05), it remained between 3.2 and 4.0 in protocol B (P < 0.05), but in protocol C it fluctuated between -2.7 and -5.0 (P < 0-05). Palmitate concentration (in μmol/1) was -150 at baseline; it did not change in protocols A and B (137 ±17 and 136 ±12, respectively) but increased to 198 ±16 (P < 0.05) in protocol C. PF (ng·kg-1 ·min-1) was -2.7 at baseline and did not change in protocol B (2.4 ±0.2); it decreased to 2.2 ± 0.1 in protocol A (P < 0.05); it increased to 3.1 ±0.3 (P < 0.05) in protocol C. These experiments provide evidence that pulsatile secretion of GH is required for its lipolytic effect.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)E127-E137
JournalAmerican Journal of Physiology
Volume271
Issue number1 PART 1
StatePublished - 1996

Keywords

  • Fat metabolism
  • Free fatty acids
  • Oscillatory secretion
  • Palmitate
  • Somatotropin

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology (medical)

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