Effect of the Benzodiazepine Derivative, Diazepam, on the Clonidine-Stimulated Human Growth Hormone Secretion

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) has both stimulatory and inhibitory effect on human GH secretion. We previously reported that the benzodiazepine derivative diazepam, which exerts its main pharmacological effect by facilitating GABA-mediated transmission, is able to reduce the GH response to L-dopa and apomorphine. To establish whether diazepam affects the α-adrenergic regulation of GH secretion, the GH response to clonidine (an α-agonist) was investigated in seven volunteers after placebo and diazepam premedications. After placebo pretreatment, clonidine (0.15 mg iv infused over 20 min) significantly stimulated GH secretion: the mean serum GH level rose from a basal level of 4.7 ± 1.1 (±SEM) ng/ml to a maximum of 10.8 ± 1.6 ng/ml (P < 0.025). After 3 days of diazepam treatment, a similar GH response to clonidine was observed; the mean serum GH level rose from a basal value of 2.3 ± 0.3 ng/ml to a maximum of 9.4 ±1.3 ng/ml. It is concluded that the inhibitory effect of diazepam on human GH secretion is mediated via inhibition of dopaminergic transmission, whereas the α-adrenergic control of GH release is not affected. Since diazepam potentiates GABAergic transmission, its effect may reflect the role of endogenous GABA in human GH secretion. (J Clin Endocrinol Metab56: 1316,1983)

This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: