GH responses to ghrelin, GHRP-6, and GHRH in Cushing’s disease (CD) are markedly blunted. There is no data about the effect of reduction of cortisol levels with steroidogenesis inhibitors, like ketoconazole, on GH secretion in CD. ACTH levels during ketoconazole treatment are controversial. The aims of this study were to compare the GH response to ghrelin, GHRP-6, and GHRH, and the ACTH and cortisol responses to ghrelin and GHRP-6 before and after one month of ketoconazole treatment in 6 untreated […]

GH secretion is modulated by a complex interplay between two hypothalamic factors, GHRH (growth hormone-releasing hormone) and somatostatin (SRIF). More recently, a third physiological mechanism mediated by GHS (growth hormone secretagogues) and its endogenous counterpart, ghrelin, has been discovered. Glucocorticoids (GCs) influence GH secretion acting at several levels, although the mechanisms involved in its multiple actions are not fully elucidated. Moreover, these steroids have stimulatory or inhibitory effects on GH release depending on the experimental model, duration of exposure, dose, […]