Neuroendocrine control of immunoreactive growth hormone and bioactive prolactin secretion in neonatal rats: ontogeny and interactions between the serotonergic, cholinergic and alpha 2-adrenergic systems

Growth hormone release induced by growth hormone-releasing hexapeptide is not mediated by thyrotropin-releasing hormone in neonatal rats

GH-releasing hexapeptide (GHRP-6) and nursing stimulate GH secretion in rat pups via GH-releasing factors (GRFs: distinct from GH-releasing hormone (GHRH). It was determined whether GH secretion induced by GHRP-6 or nursing was mediated by TSH-releasing hormone (TRH) in 2-d-old rats. In vitro. GHRP-6 and TRH stimulated GH secretion of neonatal pituitary glands. At their maximally effective doses, GHRP-6 and TRH evoked approximately equal GH responses. Treatment with a combination of the maximally effective doses of GHRP-6 and TRH resulted in a GH response comparable to that evoked by either treatment alone. GHRP-6 in vivo induced a greater GH response than did TRH. Treatment in vivo with a combination of the maximally effective doses of GHRP-6 and TRH synergistically increased serum GH levels. Unlike GHRP-6 TRH was an effective stimulus of prolactin secretion either in vitro or in vivo. Nursing was an effective stimulus for GH secretion, but only marginally increased serum prolactin levels. The effects of either of the peptides and nursing on GH secretion were additive. These results suggest that GHRP-6 stimulates GH secretion both by acting directly on the pituitary gland and indirectly via a hypothalamic GRF. The indirect effect appears to be greater. The alternative GRFs released by GHRP-6 or nursing are distinct from each other and from TRH. These findings suggest that alternative GRFs play a significant role in the regulation of GH secretion in neonatal rats.

Inhibition of GH in maternal separation may be mediated through altered serotonergic activity at 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors

The hyposecretion of growth hormone (GH) in maternal separation (MS) of rat pups is remarkably similar to the specific suppression of GH secretion to evocative tests in infants diagnosed with Reactive Attachment Disorder of Infancy (RADI). Growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) and somatostatin (SS) provide opposing regulation of GH secretion, and both are modified by noradrenergic and serotonergic stimuli in neonatal and adult rats. In this study, GRF administration reversed MS-induced suppression of GH secretion in 10-day-old pups, but this action of GRF was prevented by pretreatment with cyproheptadine (Cypro), a serotonergic antagonist. The normalization of GH secretion after return to the dam was not altered by pretreatment with SS. Indirect 5-HT agonists, fluoxetine (FLX) and 5-HTP, both stimulated GH secretion in 10-day-old pups. All mixed serotonin- and 5-HT1A-receptor agonists suppressed GH secretion in 10-day-old pups. Antagonists Cypro and ketanserin (Ket) suppressed FLX-induced GH secretion. In contrast, only Cypro suppressed 5-HTP-induced GH secretion. Maternal separation inhibited GH secretion stimulated by 5-HTP, but not by FLX. The serotonergic pathway acting on 5-HT2A receptors may be obligatory for GRF-mediated stimulation and is sensitive to inhibition by Cypro. In addition, a Ket-sensitive serotonergic parallel pathway acting on 5-HT2C receptors may also stimulate GH secretion by acting on GRF or SS. However, only the obligate 5-HT2A pathway appears to be suppressed in MS. These data and observations by others indicate that specific suppression of GH secretion in MS may derive from a reduction in GRF release through noradrenergic neurons, possibly impinging upon serotonergic terminals in the hypothalamus. This study may also provide insight into mechanisms by which GH secretion is suppressed in humans with RADI.