STIMULATION OF GROWTH HORMONE SECRETION IN MONKEYS BY ADRENALIN, PITRESSIN AND ADENOSINE-3′5′-CYCLIC MONOPHOSPHORIC ACID (3′5′-AMP)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Serum growth hormone (GH) levels were measured by immunoassay in anaesthetized, non-fasted female Rhesus monkeys. Adrenalin and Pitressin® administration significantly stimulated growth hormone secretion. I. v. injection of adenosine-3′5′-cyclic monophosphoric acid (3′5′-AMP) mimicked the stimulatory action of both adrenalin and Pitressin. The stimulation of GH secretion by 3′5′-AMP was blocked by dihydroergotamine. These results suggest that the effect of either adrenalin or Pitressin or both on GH secretion is mediated by the adenyl-cyclase – cyclic AMP system. The additional observation that Pitressin depresses at the same time the release of insulin may indicate that the adenyl-cyclase – cyclic AMP system acts as a common intermediate in the growth hormone-insulin balance.