Prolactin and Growth Hormone Release in Response to Sequential Stimulation by Arginine and Synthetic TRF

Abstract

The quantitative release, time course and sex difference between prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) responses to sequential administration of arginine and thyrotropin-releasing factor (TRF) were evaluated. Arginine infusion elicited an associated release in PRL and GH with a dissociated time course of approximately 15 min earlier for PRL than for GH. By comparison, TRF induced a more prompt and quantitatively greater PRL release which was unaccompanied by GH rise. Female subjects exhibited greater responses to both stimuli than male subjects.