Effect of human growth hormone on gastrin secretion in children with hyposomatotropism

The effect of human growth hormone (hGH) on gastrin secretion was evaluated in 13 hyposomatotropic children and two subjects with bioinactive growth hormone (GH). Serum concentrations of gastrin were quantitated by radioimmunoassay after ingestion of a standard meal and following intravenous infusion of arginine, prior to and after 6 and 12 months of hGH administration. Although the meal provoked a significant increment in gastrin values at each point, hGH did not alter basal concentrations or or meal-evoked secretion of gastrin in these subjects. Arginine had no effect on gastrin levels. Serum immunoreactive insulin concentrations increased in response to eating and arginine, but hGH did not alter the insulin secretory response to either stimulus. It is concluded that hGH did not affect the secretion of gastrin or insulin under the conditions of this study.