NORMAL CIRCULATING IMMUNOREACTIVE GROWTH HORMONE RELEASING FACTOR (hGRF) CONCENTRATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH FUNCTIONAL HYPOTHALAMIC hGRF DEFICIENCY

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Abstract
Using a highly specific radioimmunoassay we have measured the concentrations of human growth hormone releasing factor (ir-hGRF) in the peripheral circulation of six individuals with acquired hypothalamic hGRF deficiency. Despite their hypothalamic dysfunction venous plasma ir-hGRF increased normally in every patient after the stimulus of a mixed breakfast, from an average concentration basally for 13.6 .+-. 6.0 pg/ml to a maximum of 29.0 .+-. 8.4 pg/ml (mean .+-. SEM) at 120 min. The findings indicate that circulating hGRF is at least in larger part extrahypothalamic in origin, which in turn implies a physiological role for hGRF in the periphery.

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