Growth Hormone Secretagogues (Serono Symposia USA)

The traditional concept of a neuroendocrine mechanism for regulation of growth hormone (GH) secretion is based in large part on the work of Roger Guillemin. The work of Dr. Guillemin, who was awarded the 1977 Nobel Prize in Physiology and Medicine, supported the view that quantita­ tive change in GH secretion was the net result of pituitary stimulation and inhibition by the hypothalamic neurohormones, GH releasing hormone (GHRH), and somatostatin (somatotropin release inhibiting factor; SRIF), respectively. During the 1970s, another endocrine research pioneer, Dr. Cyril Bowers, discovered that structural modification of enkephalin re­ sulted in a family of peptides with GH releasing properties. These com­ pounds, simply called GH releasing peptide (GHRP), were originally thought to mimic GHRH. However, upon subsequent investigation they were found to supplement the activity of the natural hormone through a different mechanism. Nearly two decades after their discovery, the differ­ ences between GHRP and GHRH have been described by many different laboratories throughout the world. The complementary GH secretagogues have different binding sites, second messengers, and effects on gene expres­ sion. Based on these differences, it has been suggested that expansion of the original two hormone mechanisms for GH regulation to include a third molecule may be appropriate, even though the naturally occurring ana­ logue of GHRP has not yet been identified. Despite our lack of knowledge concerning the natural product mimicked by GHRP, clinical development of the new family of GH secretagogues for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes has begun in earnest. Front Matter....Pages i-xxii Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Growth Hormone Releasing Factor: A Brief History of Its Time....Pages 3-8 Xenobiotic Growth Hormone Secretagogues: Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides....Pages 9-28 Front Matter....Pages 29-29 Synthetic Analogues of Growth Hormone Releasing Factor (GHRF) with Improved Pharmaceutical Properties....Pages 31-52 Structure, Function, and Regulation of the Pituitary Receptor for Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone....Pages 53-71 Computer-Assisted Modeling of Xenobiotic Growth Hormone Secretagogues....Pages 73-83 Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides....Pages 85-102 Nonpeptidyl Growth Hormone Secretagogues....Pages 103-117 A Weak Substance P Antagonist Inhibits L-692,585-Stimulated GH Release in Swine....Pages 119-126 Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone Receptor in Human Breast Cancer Cell Line MCF-7....Pages 127-134 Front Matter....Pages 135-135 Cellular Physiology of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone....Pages 137-146 Mechanism of Action of GHRP-6 and Nonpeptidyl Growth Hormone Secretagogues....Pages 147-163 Metabolic Regulation of Growth Hormone Secretagogue Gene Expression....Pages 165-181 Front Matter....Pages 183-183 The Role of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) and Growth Hormone (GH) in the Onset of Puberty and During Glucocorticoid-Altered Growth....Pages 185-209 Clinical Studies with Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone....Pages 211-217 Central and Peripheral Effects of Peptide and Nonpeptide GH Secretagogues on GH Release In Vivo....Pages 219-236 Evidence for a Central Site and Mechanism of Action of Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide (GHRP-6)....Pages 237-251 Animal Models for Evaluating Xenobiotic Growth Hormone Secretagogue Activity....Pages 253-287 A Diagnostic Test Employing Growth Hormone Secretagogues for Evaluating Pituitary Function in the Elderly....Pages 289-305 Front Matter....Pages 307-307 Transdifferentiation of Growth Hormone and Prolactin Secreting Cells....Pages 309-319 Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone: Behavioral Evidence for Direct Central Actions....Pages 321-333 Front Matter....Pages 307-307 Growth Hormone (GH) Releasing Hormone- and Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone-Induced GH Release in the Acute Phase of Trauma....Pages 335-345 Effects of Hexarelin on Growth Hormone Secretion in Short Normal Children, in Obese Children, and in Subjects with Growth Hormone Deficiency....Pages 347-358 Lymphocytes and Hypothalamic Peptides....Pages 359-377 Growth Hormone Releasing Peptide—Hexarelin—in Children: Biochemical and Growth Promoting Effects....Pages 379-387 Growth Hormone Secretagogues in Disease States Associated with Altered Growth Hormone Secretion....Pages 389-401 Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH) Effects in Healthy Aging Men....Pages 403-413 Aging and Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides....Pages 415-431 Growth Hormone Relationships to Immune Function in Humans....Pages 433-441 Back Matter....Pages 443-461 This volume contains the proceedings of the Symposium on Growth Hormone Secretagogues, held from December 8 - 11, 1994 in St. Petersburg Beach, Florida. Written and edited by eminent international experts, the papers herein cover: historical perspectives of growth hormone releasing factors; chemistry of growth hormone secretagogues; cellular and molecular properties of growth hormone secretagogues; physiology of growth hormone secretagogues; and target tissues and applications for growth hormone secretagogues.

The book contains black-and-white illustrations.