THE EFFECT OF INTRAVENOUS L-DOPA ON GROWTH HORMONE AND LUTEINIZING HORMONE LEVELS IN MAN

Abstract

ABSTRACT The effect of various intravenous doses of L-dopa on growth hormone and LH-serum levels in 25 normal subjects was investigated. Growth hormone increased 30–40 minutes following the injection of 25 mg and 100 mg L-dopa whereas doses of less than 25 mg had no significant effect on the serum growth hormone levels. The serum LH-level was not significantly altered by the intravenous administration of various doses (1 to 100 mg) of L-dopa. These findings, which are in agreement with the results obtained with L-dopa given orally, suggest that the intravenous injection of 25 mg L-dopa may be useful as a short provocative test for growth hormone release in man.