INHIBITION OF THE PULSATILE SECRETION OF GROWTH HORMONE BY MONOCLONAL ANTIBODIES TO THE HYPOTHALAMIC GROWTH HORMONE RELEASING FACTOR (GRF)

Abstract

Infusion over 1 hour of a monoclonal antibody specific for rat hypothaiamic growth hormone releasing factor CGRF) abruptly abolishes the pulsatile secretion of growth hormone (GH) in normal nonrestrained rats. Resumption of the pulsatile secretion of GH occurs 2 to 3 days later. The episodic pulses of GH secretion thus appear to be due to a positive drive by hypothai amic GRF rather than to a periodic removal of the inhibitory activity of somatostatin.