INTERACTION BETWEEN THYROTROPHIN, CORTICOTROPHIN AND GROWTH HORMONE SECRETION IN MAN

Abstract

SUMMARY Thyrotrophin (TSH) release in response to intravenous synthetic thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH) was unaltered by simultaneous corticotrophin (ACTH) and growth hormone secretion induced by hypoglycaemia or methylamphetamine in normal subjects. Secretion of growth hormone was the same whether or not TSH was secreted. While the increments in plasma corticosteroids and ACTH after methylamphetamine administration were not different whether TRH or a control injection was given, they rose more during insulin-induced hypoglycaemia when TRH was given as well. This could have been due to a slightly greater degree of stress after TRH + insulin than insulin alone. Overnight dexamethasone suppression of basal ACTH secretion did not alter the TSH response to TRH. Unlike the rat, there is no evidence suggesting competition between pituitary mechanisms involved in ACTH, growth hormone and TSH release in man.