Effect of Acute Glucose Infusion on Plasma Concentrations of Human Growth Hormone (HGH)

SummarySerial plasma HGH concentrations were measured, in 18 normal subjects, following continuous intravenous glucose infusion performed for periods of 3, 10, 20 and 30 minutes. In 5 of 8 cases infused for 3 minutes, no rise of plasma HGH was observed in spite of the rapid fall of blood glucose with (4 cases) or without (1 case) its reduction below the fasting level. The 3 other cases infused for 3 minutes and all 10 cases of 10, 20 and 30 minutes'infusion showed definite rise of plasma HGH at 90-180 minutes following the infusion. From the results obtained, it appears that the falling blood glucose per se is not a direct stimulus, and the reduction of blood glucose below the fasting level is not necessarily a stimulus to HGH secretion.