Effect of tianeptine on the hypothalamic somatotropic axis in the conscious sheep

The action of serotonin on growth hormone (GH) secretion is controversial because of interspecies differences and lack of specificity of serotoninergic drugs. Serotonin (5-HT) appears to inhibit GH release in the sheep and in man. We have investigated the site of action of tianeptine, a 5-HT uptake enhancer, in sheep since it is possible to collect hypophysial portal blood for the simultaneous determination of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin in this species under conscious, unstressed conditions. Tianeptine injection (10 mg/kg i.v.) resulted in a significant, immediate and short-lasting (30 min) increase in peripheral GH (+750%; P < 0.01) and hypophysial portal GHRH (+180%; P < 0.01). No change in the secretion of somatostatin was recorded during the same time. These data suggest that serotoninergic inputs are inhibitory to GH secretion. Tianeptine acts centrally to stimulate GH secretion in the sheep and its effect is mediated through changes in GHRH but not somatostatin release into hypophysial portal blood.