Pharmacological evidence for a dual GABAergic regulation of growth hormone release in humans.

Effects of sodium valproate, which is believed to act via a gamma-aminobutyric acid mechanism, on basal and exercise-induced rise of growth hormone release have been tested in eighteen healthy volunteers. The exercise test consisted of using a stationary bicycle ergometer at 450 kg/min for 20 min. 600 mg per os of the drug resulted in a significant enhancement in plasma hormonal concentrations, whereas no effects were induced by placebo (p less than 0.005). Conversely, the growth hormone rise stimulated by exercise was markedly inhibited by sodium valproate (p less than 0.001 and p less than 0.01 at time 20, 40 and 60 min respectively). The results of this study are consistent with the hypothesis that a dual GABAergic control of growth hormone secretion is present in man.