[Somatotropic function of the hypophysis in endocrine diseases]

A study was made of 149 patients with various endocrine diseases, and 30 healthy persons. Despite the sharply increased initial level of growth hormone, somatotropic function of the adenohypophysis was considerably depressed. In patients with hypophysial, cerebral, and somatogenic nanism somatotropic function of the hypophysis proved to be lowered. In diabetes mellitus of moderate severity without any vascular affections with the normal initial blood somatotropin level reaction to insulin hypoglycemia was sharply diminished. Persons suffering from prediabetes displayed a tendency to the change of the somatotropic function of the hypophysis. With increasing adiposity there is a reduction of the initial level of blood growth hormone and of the somatotropic activity of the hypophysis in Itsenko-Cushing's disease and thyrotoxicosis was apparently connected with disturbances of the hypothalamo-hypophysial interrelations.