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Cited by 921Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth FactorsHypothalamic control of reproductive hormonesPituitary Gland Disorders and Treatments

Effects of sex and age on the 24-hour profile of growth hormone secretion in man: importance of endogenous estradiol concentrations

HO, K. Y., EVANS, W. S., BLIZZARD, R. M., VELDHUIS, J. D., MERRIAM, G. R., SAMOJLIK, E., FURLANETTO, R., ROGOL, A. D +2 more·1987·The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
DOI 10.1210/jcem-64-1-51
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Abstract

We undertook a study of the separate and combined effects of age and sex on the pulsatile pattern of GH secretion. The 24-h secretory profile of GH was generated by 20-min sampling in 10 young women (aged 18-33 yr), 10 young men (aged 18-33 yr), 8 postmenopausal women (aged greater than 55 yr), and 8 older men (aged greater than 55 yr). A computer-assisted pulse analysis program was used to assess both total GH secretion, as reflected in the 24-h integrated GH concentration (IGHC), and pulsatile secretion, as denoted by pulse frequency, duration, amplitude, and the fraction of GH secreted in pulses during the 24-h period (FGHP). IGHC was significantly greater in women than in men (P less than 0.025) and greater in the young than in the old (P less than 0.003). The mean pulse amplitude, duration, and FGHP were each greater in the young (P less than 0.006, P less than 0.03, and P less than 0.0001, respectively), but not significantly different between the sexes. The mean pulse frequency was not affected by sex or age. The serum concentration of free estradiol, but not free testosterone, correlated with IGHC (r = 0.46; P less than 0.005), pulse amplitude (r = 0.53; P less than 0.001), and FGHP (r = 0.59; P less than 0.0002). After correcting for the effects of estradiol, neither sex nor age influenced IGHC or mean pulse amplitude, while the effect of age on FGHP was reduced from 81% to 29%. Of the indices of GH secretion, FGHP had the strongest correlation (r = 0.43; P less than 0.006) with somatomedin-C. Somatomedin-C declined significantly with age in both sexes. Our results indicate that sex and age have independent and interrelated effects on GH secretion. These effects can be largely accounted for by corresponding variations in endogenous estradiol levels. These observations suggest an amplifying action of estradiol on the neuroendocrine regulation of pulsatile GH release.

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Crossref · 10.1210/jcem-64-1-51

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  • Endogenous GH secretion in young women is consistently higher (typically twice as high) as in young men of similar age.

    “The proposal that the sex difference in muscle mass and function might be due to sex differences in endogenous GH secretion (116) is refuted by the extensive and conclusive clinical evidence that endogenous GH secretion in young women is consistently higher (typically twice as high) as in young men of similar age (163–170).”

    From Circulating Testosterone as the Hormonal Basis of Sex Differences in Athletic Performance (2018) · cites this paper as [166]

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Authors
HO, K. Y., EVANS, W. S., BLIZZARD, R. M., VELDHUIS, J. D., MERRIAM, G. R., SAMOJLIK, E., FURLANETTO, R., ROGOL, A. D., KAISER, D. L., & THORNER, M. O.
Affiliations
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (US)
ORCID
Venue
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Publisher
The Endocrine Society
Published
1987-01
Volume
64
Issue
1
Pages
51-58
ISSN
  • 0021-972X (ISSN-L)
  • 1945-7197
DOI
10.1210/jcem-64-1-51
OpenAlex
W1987910229
Cited by
921
References
39
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 8 · 2019: 12 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 8 · 2015: 11 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 16
FWCI
20.97
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Santen
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01am032632-03)
  • National Center for Research Resources (RR 00847)
  • Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (HD-13197)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Growth Hormone and Insulin-like Growth Factors
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Reproductive Medicine › Hypothalamic control of reproductive hormones
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Pituitary Gland Disorders and Treatments
Keywords
growth hormone secretion, pulsatile secretion, sex differences, aging, estradiol, free testosterone, insulin-like growth factor I, pulse frequency, pulse amplitude, postmenopausal women, older men, neuroendocrine regulation
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aging, Circadian Rhythm, Estradiol, Humans, Insulin-Like Growth Factor I, Male, Middle Aged, Pulse, Sex Factors, Growth Hormone, Testosterone

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