INTERACTION OF HYPOGLYCEMIA WITH PYRIDOSTIGMINE OR ARGININE ON GH SECRETION IN NORMAL SHORT CHILDREN

Hypoglycemia, acetylcholine (Ach) and amino acids have stimulatory eff ect on GH secretion ire humans. To clarify interactions among these st imuli, we studied in 24 normal short children the effect of insulin-in duced hypoglycemia (IH) alone and combined with pyridostigmine (PD), a cholinesterase inhibitor, or arginine (ARG). PD and ARG did not modif y the GH-releasing effect of IH. Thus, IH, Ach and ARG have similar GH -releasing effect which is likely mediated by a common mechanism of ac tion, i.e. inhibition of hypothalamic somatostatin (SS) release.