Growth hormone secretion and sulfation factor activity in pseudohypoparathyroidism

The role of growth hormone and serum sulfation factor in the pathogenesis of the short stature of pseudohypoparathyroidism was investigated in two adults with this syndrome. Growth hormone levels rose to 10.6 and 26.0 ng. per milliliter with insulin hypoglycemia, and reached 6.6 and 6.4 ng. per milliliter 120 minutes after 500 mg. of L-Dopa orally in these patients. Serum from both patients supported the incorporation of 35S-sulfate into chick embryo pelvic rudiments when incubated for 6 hours in a physiologic salt solution containing 13 amino acids. Pseudohypoparathyroid serum also stimulated the incorporation of radioactive sulfate into rat costal and xyphoid cartilage at a level similar to that observed with normal serum. It is concluded that growth hormone and sulfation factor deficiency are not implicated in the short statue of pseudohypoparathyroidism.