EFFECT OF A NEW SYNTHETIC HEXAPEPTIDE TO SELECTIVELY STIMULATE GROWTH HORMONE RELEASE IN HEALTHY HUMAN SUBJECTS

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Abstract
Growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP, SK and F 110679) is hexapeptide (His-DTrp-Ala-Trp-DPhe-LysNH2) that selectively stimulates the release of growth hormone (GH) but not other pituitary hormones in vitro and in vivo in a variety of animal species. GHRP was administered to 17 normal men at doses of from 0.05 to 2.5 .mu.g/kg as a 30 min intravenous infusion. Eight of the men were infused of the peptide, peaked at 45 min and then decreased to baseline values by 210 min. The mean peak serum GH concentrations (.+-. SE) in response to GHRP infusion were 17.8 .+-. 6.1 .mu.g/L at a dose of 0.25 .mu.g/kg (n = 4, p = .03 vs saline), 38.3 .+-. 9.2 .mu.g/L at 0.5 .mu.g/kg (n = 4, p = .04 vs saline) and 63.0 .+-. 5.4 .mu.g/L at 1.0 .mu.g/kg (n = 4, p = .002 vs saline). Serum LH, FSH, TSH and ACTH were unaffected by GHRP administration. GHRP was safe and well-tolerated in all men. GHRP infusion resulted in a dramatic, selective and dose-dependent increase in serum GH concentrations.