Effect of Intravenous Infusion of L-DOPA on Plasma Growth Hormone Levels in Man

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Abstract
Effect of intravenous infusion of 100 mg of L-Dopa on plasma human growth hormone (HGH) levels was studied in normal subjects and patients with certain central nervous system diseases. Intravenous infusion of L-Dopa caused a rise in plasma HGH in most of the normal subjects tested, with peak HGH levels of 15.5 ± 6.1 mµg/ml. Plasma HGH rose significantly during the infusion of L-Dopa in most of the patients with Parkinson's disease, other degenerative central nervous system diseases and anorexia nervosa, although apparently less marked than in normal subjects. Oral administration of glucose did not affect the magnitude of HGH response to L-Dopa but delayed the peak of plasma HGH slightly. Combined administration of propranolol, a beta adrenergic blocking agent, significantly enhanced plasma HGH response to L-Dopa, whereas phentolamine, an alpha blocking agent, had no significant effect.

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