SPONTANEOUS VARIATIONS IN SERUM GROWTH HORMONE LEVELS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Serum growth hormone (HGH) levels have been estimated in hourly samples for 24 hours in 2 women and 1 man. The highest levels in all subjects were found in association with the onset of sleep at whatever time that occurred. Other spontaneous peaks were found particularly in 1 woman. The rise in serum HGH levels in women following the stimuli of exercise or Bovril was greater or more rapid when these stimuli were applied mid-morning compared with early in the morning. Serum HGH levels at the same times on different days showed a great variation in the mid-morning levels from day to day in a female subject. No such variation was found in a man, nor in the female subject in the early morning.