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Maturation of central nervous system control of growth hormone secretion in rats.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Kuhn, CM; Schanberg, SM
Published in: J Pharmacol Exp Ther
April 1981

The concentration of growth hormone (GH) in serum of neonatal rats was determined by radioimmunoassay after administration of various drugs that after serum GH in adult rats. Administration of the serotonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan or morphine increased serum GH in pups of all ages. The 5-hydroxytryptophan-induced rise was prevented by the serotonergic antagonist cyproheptadine but not by the dopaminergic antagonist haloperidol. Pentobarbital decreased serum GH in 5-day-old pups but increased GH in 15-, 20- and 35-day-old pups. Clonidine decreased serum GH in 5- and 10-day-old pups and did not increase serum GH until pups were 35 days old. Finally, significant ultradian surges of GH secretion were observed in 35-day-old animals but only slight secretory episodes occurred in 24-day-old pups. These results suggest that the serotonergic and endogenous opiate systems involved in regulation of GH secretion in rats are functional within the first postnatal week. In contrast, the extrahypothalamic mechanisms through which pentobarbital acts do not mature until 2 to 3 weeks after birth. Finally, the inability of clonidine to stimulate GH secretion and the absence of significant ultradian surges before day 35 suggest that the noradrenergic mechanism and possibly other neural systems which trigger the surges of GH secretion observed in adult rats do not mature until after puberty.

Duke Scholars

Published In

J Pharmacol Exp Ther

ISSN

0022-3565

Publication Date

April 1981

Volume

217

Issue

1

Start / End Page

152 / 156

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rats
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy
  • Pentobarbital
  • Morphine
  • Male
  • Growth Hormone
  • Female
  • Clonidine
  • Central Nervous System
  • Animals
 

Citation

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MLA
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Kuhn, C. M., & Schanberg, S. M. (1981). Maturation of central nervous system control of growth hormone secretion in rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther, 217(1), 152–156.
Kuhn, C. M., and S. M. Schanberg. “Maturation of central nervous system control of growth hormone secretion in rats.J Pharmacol Exp Ther 217, no. 1 (April 1981): 152–56.
Kuhn CM, Schanberg SM. Maturation of central nervous system control of growth hormone secretion in rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1981 Apr;217(1):152–6.
Kuhn, C. M., and S. M. Schanberg. “Maturation of central nervous system control of growth hormone secretion in rats.J Pharmacol Exp Ther, vol. 217, no. 1, Apr. 1981, pp. 152–56.
Kuhn CM, Schanberg SM. Maturation of central nervous system control of growth hormone secretion in rats. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 1981 Apr;217(1):152–156.

Published In

J Pharmacol Exp Ther

ISSN

0022-3565

Publication Date

April 1981

Volume

217

Issue

1

Start / End Page

152 / 156

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Rats
  • Pharmacology & Pharmacy
  • Pentobarbital
  • Morphine
  • Male
  • Growth Hormone
  • Female
  • Clonidine
  • Central Nervous System
  • Animals