CENTRAL GLUCOPENIA INDUCED BY 2-DEOXY-D-GLUCOSE STIMULATES SOMATOSTATIN SECRETION IN THE RAT

The mechanisms involved in 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG)-induced growth hor mone (GH) suppression in the rat were examined. Conscious male rats we re given 2-DG by intracerebroventricular (icy) injection and the pulsa tile GH secretion was monitored for 6 h. The single icy injection of 2 -DG (8 mg/rat) eliminated pulsatile GH secretion in conscious rats. Pr etreatment with somatostatin (SS) antiserum completely restored the su ppressed GH secretion in the 2-DG treated rats. Hypothalamic GH-releas ing hormone (GRH) and SS mRNA levels were not altered by single and mu ltiple icy injections of 2-DG. These findings suggest that 2-DG-induce d GH suppression is primarily due to hypersecretion of SS without a si gnificant change at the transcription level in the rat.