生长激素释放肽的结构和功能

生长激素释放肽(growth hormone releasing peptide,Ghrelin,GHRP),是最近发现的可以促进GH分泌的肽激素,主要来源于胃,有28个氨基酸残基,其第三位氨基酸残基(一般是丝氨酸)被脂肪酸修饰,实验证明被修饰的N端是其活性核心部位。该文介绍ghrelin的主要结构和生物学功能。     

鹅膏菌中毒小鼠解毒药物的筛选

考察了几种中药对鳞柄白鹅膏中毒小鼠的解毒作用。鳞柄白鹅膏为极毒真菌,当其干燥子实体水溶液质量浓度>10mg/mL时,小鼠全部死亡,质量浓度为10mg/mL时,小鼠在9 h内全部死亡,选择这一浓度使小鼠中毒,使用所选中药对小鼠进行解毒试验。结果表明:水飞蓟(7.8 g/kg)、绿豆(3.9 g/kg)及甘草(1.3 g/kg)均能延迟小鼠的死亡时间,但与对照组相比差异不显著。灵芝(1.95 g/kg)对小鼠的死亡时间有明显的延迟作用,并与对照组相比差异显著(P<0.05)。同时使用灵芝剂量为首次解毒试验剂量的100倍水煎液(195 g/kg)和300倍水煎液(585 g/kg),以及按原料剂量为195 g/kg提取其中三萜及多糖用于对鹅膏中毒小鼠的解毒试验。结果表明:试验组小鼠的死亡时间均有延迟,其中195 g/kg剂量灵芝组和灵芝三萜试验组与对照组相比差异显著(P<0.05)。     

从噬菌体表面展示肽库中筛选志贺毒素受体结合抑制剂

利用抗体捕获法 ,从表面展示随机肽序列的噬菌体文库中筛选到与志贺毒素B亚基 (StxB)结合 ,并能抑制志贺毒素细胞毒效应的噬菌体克隆 ;依据其中 1个克隆序列 (A12 )合成的肽可以与志贺毒素的受体Gb3竞争结合StxB ,并抑制志贺毒素(Stx)的细胞毒和肠毒活性 ;抑制 5×CD₅₀ 剂量的Stx细胞毒效应需 2 2 .7μmol的A12合成肽 .筛选得到的 2个噬菌体克隆 (A3 ,A12 )编码的氨基酸序列不同 ,但能竞争结合StxB ,推测它们形成相同或相似的空间结构 .为志贺毒素抑制剂进一步研究打下基础 ,对其他相关药物的研制亦有参考价值 .     

采用固相法合成高纯度生产激素释放因子

工业技术院纤维高分子材料研究所合成了由44种氨基酸构成的人生长激素释放因子(GRF)。从脑下垂体中放出的人生长激素是受丘脑下部产生的GRF控制的。自从1982年发现GRF是由44种氨基酸组成的肽以后,在全世界范围内进行了对它的合成研究。现在该研究所的大箸信一等使用了连结氨基酸成为肽的自动合成装置,在溶媒中使用二氯甲烷、氯仿、甲醇等,通过固相合成法,成功地合成了在世界上居领先的高纯度GRF。     

无机磷影响叠氮钠对ATP合成酶合成活性的抑制

利用ADP和放射性磷直接合成ATP的方法,研究了无机磷(P_i)和叠氮钠对猪心线粒体ATP合成酶（F₁F_O-ATPase）ATP合成活性的影响.结果发现无机磷除作为合成ATP的底物参与F₁F_O-ATPase的合成反应外,还对F₁F_O-ATPase的合成活性呈现抑制作用,在1 mmol/L ADP存在时,随着P_i浓度由0.01～10 mmol/L增加,抑制合成作用越来越强.与叠氮钠在低浓度时(小于1 mmol/L)只抑制ATP水解,不影响ATP合成的观点不同.实验结果显示0.1 mmol/L叠氮钠表观激活F₁F_O-ATPase的ATP合成活性,且激活程度与反应体系中所加P_i的浓度呈负相关.当固定P_i浓度（0.1 mmol/L）后,随着叠氮钠浓度的增加表观激活程度也在变化,叠氮钠与磷浓度相等时表观激活程度最大,直至叠氮钠浓度接近0.5 mmol/L时,开始呈现表观抑制现象,叠氮钠浓度高于1 mmol/L之后,就出现解偶联现象.     

不同剂量重组人生长激素治疗对特发性矮小症患儿骨代谢、甲状腺功能和血清Ghrelin、IGF-1水平的影响

摘要 目的：探讨不同剂量重组人生长激素（rHGH）治疗对特发性矮小症（ISS）患儿骨代谢、甲状腺功能和血清食欲刺激素（Ghrelin）、胰岛素样生长因子-1（IGF-1）水平的影响。方法：选取2017年3月~2020年2月期间来我院接受治疗的ISS患儿60例,根据随机数字表法分为低剂量组（给予剂量0.10 U/kg?d进行治疗）和高剂量组（给予剂量0.20 U/kg?d进行治疗）,各为30例。比较两组患儿生长发育情况[身高、体重、生长速度（GV）、身高标准积分（Ht SDS）]、骨代谢[骨碱性磷酸酶（BAP）、I型前胶原氨基端前肽（PINP）、I型胶原交联羧基末端肽（β-CTX）]、甲状腺功能[促甲状腺激素（TSH）、游离三碘甲腺原氨酸（FT_{3/sub>）、游离甲状腺素（FT4/sub>）]和血清Ghrelin、IGF-1水平。观察不良反应发生情况。结果：治疗1年后,高剂量组身高、体重、GV、Ht SDS高于低剂量组（P<0.05）。高剂量组治疗1年后BAP、PINP高于低剂量组,β-CTX低于低剂量组（P<0.05）。两组患儿治疗1年后TSH、FT3/sub>、FT4/sub>组内对比无统计学差异（P>0.05）。高剂量组Ghrelin低于低剂量组,IGF-1水平高于低剂量组（P<0.05）。两组总的不良反应发生率组间对比无统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论：相对于0.10 U/kg?d剂量的rHGH,0.20 U/kg?d剂量的rHGH可更好的促进ISS患儿生长发育,调节骨代谢和血清Ghrelin、IGF-1水平,且对人体甲状腺功能无影响。}     

阿莫西林干预IHFA小鼠及对其成年后肠道菌群的影响

目的利用婴儿菌群人源化小鼠(IHFA小鼠)观察阿莫西林对其干预后及成年后肠道菌群的影响。方法新生Balb/c无菌小鼠接种纯母乳喂养的婴儿粪便获得IHFA小鼠。7~21日龄灌胃给予100mg/kg阿莫西林,对照组给予等量的生理盐水。采用变性梯度凝胶电泳(DGGE)检测小鼠在21日龄及53日龄的肠道菌群。结果 21日龄的阿莫西林处理组IHFA小鼠肠道菌群与正常对照组比较差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);即使在停药后饲养至53日龄的成年小鼠,阿莫西林处理组小鼠肠道菌群仍然存在细微差异。结论哺乳期治疗剂量阿莫西林处理不仅严重干扰小鼠肠道菌群结构,同时导致其成年后肠道菌群不能完全恢复。     

纳米硒对山羊生长、血清抗氧化酶、生长激素和胰岛素的影响

研究纳米硒对山羊生长性能、山羊抗氧化能力、生长激素和胰岛素的影响。选择体重相近、体格健壮的太行青山羊公羊90只,随机分为9组,分别喂以基础日粮和添加不同水平(0.03 mg/kg DM,0.05 mg/kg DM,0.1 mg/kg DM,0.3 mg/kg DM,0.5 mg/kg DM,1 mg/kg DM,3 mg/kg DM和5 mg/kg DM)纳米硒的饲料,实验期95 d。结果表明:日粮添加纳米硒显著提高山羊的生长性能(P<0.05)、血清超氧化物歧化酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化酶活性(P<0.05),当添加水平在0.3 mg/kg DM~1 mg/kg DM时,血清超氧化物歧化酶和谷胱甘肽过氧化酶活性保持高峰平台;日粮添加纳米硒显著降低血清谷胱甘肽硫转移酶活性和丙二醛含量(P<0.05),并在添加水平为0.3 mg/kg DM~1 mg/kg DM时保持低谷状态;日粮添加纳米硒显著提高全血硒、生长激素和胰岛素的浓度(P<0.05)。结论:日粮添加0.3 mg/kg DM~1 mg/kg DM,增强了山羊机体抗氧化功能,促进了生长激素和胰岛素的分泌,从而促进山羊的生长。     

谷氨酸对哺乳仔猪器官指数、血液生化指标、血脂水平和抗氧化能力的影响

为研究谷氨酸对哺乳仔猪器官指数、血液生化指标、血脂水平及抗氧化能力的影响。选取体况、胎龄和分娩日期一致的长×大母猪6头,每头母猪选取体重相似的仔猪8头(1.55±0.20 kg),其他的仔猪寄养。每窝仔猪按体重随机分为4个组(2头/组),每天分别按体重灌服0.18 g/kg氯化钠(对照组)、0.06 g/kg谷氨酸钠(低剂量组)、0.50 g/kg谷氨酸钠(中剂量组)和1.00 g/kg谷氨酸钠(高剂量组)。仔猪以每天称重后的体重为标准计算口服谷氨酸钠的剂量。分别于7日龄和21日龄各组每窝随机选取1头仔猪屠宰取样。结果表明:灌服谷氨酸对7日龄和21日龄仔猪心指数、肝指数、脾指数和肾指数均没有显著影响(P0.05)。灌服高剂量谷氨酸显著升高了7日龄哺乳仔猪血清谷氨酰胺合成酶活性和血红蛋白含量及21日龄哺乳仔猪血清谷氨酰胺合成酶活性(P0.05),显著降低了21日龄仔猪血清内毒素ET含量及ATPase活性(P0.05)。灌服中剂量谷氨酸显著降低了7日龄和21日龄哺乳仔猪血清游离脂肪酸含量,对21日龄仔猪血清高密度脂蛋白水平也有显著影响(P0.05)。灌服中剂量谷氨酸显著升高了7日龄哺乳仔猪血清总抗氧化能力(P0.05),显著降低了7日龄哺乳仔猪血清谷胱甘肽硫转移酶和超氧化物歧化酶活性及丙二醛含量(P0.05)。灌服中高剂量谷氨酸显著降低了21日龄仔猪血清谷胱甘肽硫转移酶活性和丙二醛含量(P0.05),显著升高了21日龄仔猪血清超氧化物歧化酶活性(P0.05)。因此,灌服谷氨酸能够显著影响哺乳仔猪血液生化和血脂水平、提高哺乳仔猪抗氧化能力     

快原子轰击质谱法测定肽序列

本文通过对合成的五肽胃泌素及人类粒细胞慢性白血病蛋白P₂₁₀的抗原簇十肽的研究,探讨了小肽氨基酸序列直接测定的快原子轰击质谱法(FABMS)。从谱图中可以观察到显著的分子量信息和序列离子,并由此确定出肽的氨基酸序列。结果表明,一般C-端无碱性氨基酸时肽链比较容易形成N-端序列离子。 对掺杂有氧化态的还原型谷胱甘肽及其经巯基乙醇处理后的混合物FAB谱图的研究表明,后者具有更强的分子离子峰和更完整的序列离子,为含有胱(半胱)氨酸的肽序列分析提供了一个方法。     

Growth hormone stimulates hepatic lipid mobilization in rainbow trout,Oncorhynchus mykiss

Rainbow trout were used to characterize the direct influence of growth hormone on hepatic lipid mobilization in vitro. Liver was removed from fish fasted 72 h, sliced into 1-mm³ pieces and incubated in Hanks' medium containing ovine or salmon growth hormone (0.28 ng·ml^-1–28 g·ml^-1). Lipid mobilization, resulting from triacylglycerol hydrolysis, was evaluated by fatty acid and glycerol release into culture medium. Control rates of fatty acid release and glycerol release were 0.95±0.16 (mean ± SE) and 0.88±0.28 mol·l^-1·mg fresh weight, respectively. Both ovine growth hormone (28 ng·ml^-1) and salmon growth hormone (28 ng·ml^-1) stimulated fatty acid release into culture medium, increasing rates by 112% and 97%, respectively, during the course of a 24-h incubation. Glycerol release was similarly augmented by growth hormone treatment. Growth hormone-stimulated metabolite release became evident within 12 h and persisted for up to 72 h. The presence of amino acids in the culture medium potentiated the lipolytic action of growth hormone. Ovine growth hormone (28 ng·ml^-1) in the presence of amino acids stimulated a 53% increase in fatty acid, and a 108% increase in glycerol, release over rates observed in the absence of amino acids. Salmon growth hormone (28 ng·ml^-1) in the presence of amino acids stimulated a 53% increase in fatty acid, and a 44% increase in glycerol, release over rates observed in the absence of amino acids. Ovine growth hormone (28 ng·ml^-1) also stimulated gluconeogenesis, as indicated by a 75% increase in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase activity in liver pieces incubated in the presence of amino acids. These results indicate that growth hormone directly stimulates lipid breakdown in the liver of trout and that amino acids potentiate growth hormone-stimulated lipolysis.Abbreviations AA amino acid(s) - dGDP deoxy-guanosine diphosphate - ED ₅₀ 50% effective dose - FA fatty acid(s) - fw fesh weight - GH growth hormone - Hepes 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)-1-piperazineethanesulphonic acid - MS-222 tricaine methanesulfonate - MEM minimum essential medium - oGH ovine growth hormone - PEPCK phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase - PK_c protein kinase C - rpm revolutions per minute - sGH salmon growth hormone - TG triacylglycerol - w/v weight per volume This paper was presented in abstract form at the Annual Meeting of the American Society of Zoologists, Dec. 26–30, 1991, Atlanta, GA     

Growth hormone signaling is necessary for lifespan extension by dietary methionine

Growth hormone significantly impacts lifespan in mammals. Mouse longevity is extended when growth hormone (GH) signaling is interrupted but markedly shortened with high‐plasma hormone levels. Methionine metabolism is enhanced in growth hormone deficiency, for example, in the Ames dwarf, but suppressed in GH transgenic mice. Methionine intake affects also lifespan, and thus, GH mutant mice and respective wild‐type littermates were fed 0.16%, 0.43%, or 1.3% methionine to evaluate the interaction between hormone status and methionine. All wild‐type and GH transgenic mice lived longer when fed 0.16% methionine but not when fed higher levels. In contrast, animals without growth hormone signaling due to hormone deficiency or resistance did not respond to altered levels of methionine in terms of lifespan, body weight, or food consumption. Taken together, our results suggest that the presence of growth hormone is necessary to sense dietary methionine changes, thus strongly linking growth and lifespan to amino acid availability.     

Mediation of growth hormone-enhanced expression of the cartilage phenotype in vitro by the availability of the essential amino acid valine

Without increasing cell number, ovine growth hormone was shown to stimulate the incorporation of ²⁵SO₄ by cultured chick embryo chondrocytes into chondroitin sulfate. Since the stimulation of sulfation by growth hormone was abolished when the amino acid concentrations in the medium were doubled, the relationship between amino acids and growth hormone in promoting the synthesis of acid mucopolysaccharides was investigated. Comparison of the incorporation of various labeled amino acids into trichloroacetic acid-soluble and insoluble material revealed that growth hormone promoted the incorporation of only valine into trichloroacetic acid-insoluble material. Furthermore, growth hormone stimulated valine incorporation into both extracellular and intracellular protein, rather than preferentially into extracellular chondromucoprotein. Growth hormone gave a 4-fold stimulation of valine incorporation into collagen without stimulating collagen synthesis. That growth hormone enhances sulfation by stimulating valine availability was further supported by the observations: (a) doubling only the valine concentration in the medium enhanced sulfation; (b) in medium with twice the normal valine concentration, sulfation failed to be further stimulated with the addition of growth hormone; and (c) in medium with all the other amino acids except valine at twice normal concentrations, growth hormone enhanced sulfation. In addition the temporal relationships and synthetic events occurring between growth hormonealtered valine availability and enhanced chondromucoprotein synthesis were studied. It was found that growth hormone-promoted valine incorporation into acid-insoluble material is a rapid effect that can be detected by 10 min after hormone addition and does not require RNA synthesis. Increased valine availability is rapidly reversed after growth hormone removal ( ). On the other hand, growth hormone- and valine-enhanced chondromucoprotein synthesis are slower responses, taking over 24 hr of treatment for a maximal stimulation, and are mediated by RNA synthesis, as indicated by actinomycin D sensitivity. Enhanced chondromucoprotein synthesis is also relatively stable after removal of growth hormone or valine ( ).The evidence suggests that the availability of a single amino acid, valine, plays a regulatory role in the synthesis of a specialized cellular product and that growth hormone acts at some level to alter the availability of this essential amino acid.     

Obese subjects respond to the stimulatory effect of the ghrelin agonist growth hormone-releasing peptide-2 on food intake

Objective: The administration of the growth hormone (GH) secretagogue GH‐releasing peptide (GHRP)‐2, like ghrelin, increases food intake (FI) in lean healthy men. The aim of this study was to investigate whether this effect occurs in obese subjects and whether it is dose‐dependent. Research Methods and Procedures: Nineteen subjects (10 lean and nine obese), all healthy and weight stable, received a double‐blind randomized subcutaneous infusion of GHRP‐2 at high dose (HD; 1 μg/kg per hour), low dose (0.1 μg/kg per hour), or placebo for 270 minutes over three study visits. Blood for hormone assays was collected through an intravenous forearm catheter. Hunger and fullness were rated on visual analog scales before and after a fixed breakfast (320 kcal at 120 minutes) and a buffet lunch at 240 minutes. Before lunch, subjects received taped instructions to eat as much as they wanted. Results: GHRP‐2 infusion significantly increased ad libitum FI in a dose‐dependent manner by 10.2 ± 3.9% at low dose (p = 0.011) and by 33.5 ± 5.8% at HD (p = 0.000) compared with placebo. Obesity status did not influence the effect of GHRP‐2 on FI. All subjects had greater ratings of appetite before but similar levels of fullness after the meal with the HD GHRP‐2. Serum GH levels increased dose dependently in all subjects. Discussion: The dual stimulatory effect of GHRP‐2 on FI and human GH is dose dependent. Obese individuals retain their ability to respond to GHRP‐2 both in terms of FI and human GH.     

Molecular Cloning of Growth Hormone Complementary DNA in Barfin Flounder (Verasper moseri)

The olive flounder (family Paralichthidae; Paralichthys olivaceus) growth hormone (ofGH) appears to be the most derived among known growth hormones, with the deletion of 14 consecutive amino acids in the carboxy-terminal region. To ascertain if this deletion is common to all flounders, growth hormone complementary DNA of the barfin flounder (bfGH) (family Pleuronectidae; Verasper moseri) has been cloned. It was amplified by polymerase chain reaction using single-strand cDNA from the pituitary gland. Excluding the poly(A) tail, the bfGH cDNA is 919 nucleotides long and contains a 609-bp open reading frame encoding a putative signal peptide of 17 amino acids and a mature protein of 186 amino acids. Northern blot analysis detected 1.0 kb of bfGH messenger RNA in the pituitary gland, which is a reasonable value considering the poly(A) tail. The deduced amino acid sequence of bfGH has 78% identity with the sequence of ofGH. A major difference is the presence of a 14 amino acid segment (140–153) in bfGH, as in other growth hormones, suggesting that this deletion in the olive flounder occurred after the divergence of the Pleuronectoidae. Received May 7, 1999; accepted July 13, 1999.     

Growth hormone-releasing peptide-biotin conjugate stimulates myocytes differentiation through insulin-like growth factor-1 and collagen type I

Based on the potential beneficial effects of growth hormone releasing peptide (GHRP)-6 on muscle functions, a newly synthesized GHRP-6-biotin conjugate was tested on cultured myoblast cells. Increased expression of myogenic marker proteins was observed in GHRP-6-biotin conjugate-treated cells. Additionally, increased expression levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 and collagen type I were observed. Furthermore, GHRP-6-biotin conjugate-treated cells showed increased metabolic activity, as indicated by increased concentrations of energy metabolites, such as ATP and lactate, and increased enzymatic activity of lactate dehydrogenase and creatine kinase. Finally, binding protein analysis suggested few candidate proteins, including desmin, actin, and zinc finger protein 691 as potential targets for GHRP6-biotin conjugate action. These results suggest that the newly synthesized GHRP-6-biotin conjugate has myogenic stimulating activity through, at least in part, by stimulating collagen type I synthesis and several key proteins. Practical applications of the GHRP-6-biotin conjugate could include improving muscle condition. [BMB Reports 2015; 48(9): 501-506]     

Growth hormone stimulation of amino acid transport and utilization by the perfused rat liver.

The effects of growth hormone, administered in vivo or added in vitro, on amino acid transport and utilization have been studied in perfused livers of normal and hypophysectomized rats. A perfusion system employing a nonrecirculating medium was used in all of the studies. Two nonmetalbolizable amino acid analogues, alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) and 1-aminocyclopentane carboxylic acid (cycloleucine) were used to study transport. Accumulation of AIB increased linearly over a 60-min perfusion period, reaching distribution ratios of between 1 and 2 for both groups of animals. Treatment of both normal and hypophysectomized rats with growth hormone 60 min prior to the start of perfusion increased AIB distribution ratios by up to 84 and 108%, respectively. Accumulation of cycloleucine was linear for only about 20 min of perfusion and then plateaued. Steady state distribution ratios of this analogue ranged between 1 and 2 for both groups of animals. Growth hormone treatment had no apparent effect on the time necessary to reach these steady state levels, but significantly increased them in livers of both normal and hypophysectomized rats by 16 and 42%, respectively. Studies designed to analyze the kinetic properties of these hormone effects revealed that growth hormone treatment caused 2-fold i-crease in the maximum velocities of both the AIB and cycloleucine transport systems. The substrate concentration for half-maximal transport velocity was increased slightly for both systems by growth hormone. Direct effects of growth hormone were demonstrated in studies where livers of hypophysectomized rats were perfused under conditions simulationg those of experiments in which the hormone was administered in vivo. Following an initial 45-min period of perfusion the medium during the 20 min. Growth hormone added to the medium during the entire 65-min perfusion at a concentration of 1 mug per ml caused a 30% increase in the cycloleucine distribution ratio. Under similar experimental conditions growth hormone directly stimulated three hepatic pathways of amino acid utilization: (a) incorporation of [14C]valine into protein, (b) urea formation and (c) conversion of 14-C-amino-acids to labeled glucose. Intracellular concentrations of seven amino acids, including threonine, serine, proline, glycine, alanine, lysine, and arginine, were increased significantly in livers perfused with medium containing growth hormone...     

川金丝猴垂体生长激素基因的克隆与初步分析

本研究通过PCR克隆测序,初步确定了川金丝猴(Rhinopithecus roxellanae)的垂体生长激素基因的全部外显子核苷酸序列及推断出相应的氨基酸序列（包括26个氨基酸的信号肽序列以及191个氨基酸的成熟蛋白序列）。我们构建了灵长类7个物种垂体生长激素基因进化关系的基因树。垂体生长激素氨基酸序列的比较和垂体生长激素重要功能位点分析的结果显示：猴科的猕猴与疣猴科的川金丝猴垂体生长激素基因差异非常小。我们推测在猴超科动物中,垂体生长激素无明显功能上的差异。 Abstract:Putative pituitary growth hormone gene of Rhinopithecus roxellanae was cloned and sequenced.All exons sequences and deduced amino acid sequence (containing 26 residues signal peptide and 191 residues mature protein) were obtained.We constructed a phylogenetic tree,which well reflected the true evolutionary relationship of pituitary growth hormone genes from 7 primates species.From the results of amino acids sequence comparison and analysis of functionally important sites of growth hormone,pituitary growth hormone of macaque from Cercopithecidae and snub-nosed golden monkey from Colobidae show little difference.We indicated that pituitary growth hormone from Cercopithecoidea species have no apparently functional difference.     

Effect of substance P/bombesin antagonists on the release of growth hormone by GHRP and GHRH.

The substance P(SP)/bombesin (Bn) antagonists [DArg1DTrp7,9Leu11] SP(P-7482), [DArg1-DPro2DTrp7,9Leu11]SP (P-7483), [DArg1DPhe5DTrp7,9Leu11]SP(P-7492), and the growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) antagonist [DArg2Ala8,9,15]GHRH(1-29)(DC21-366) were tested for their in vitro effects on the release of growth hormone (GH) in the presence of GHRH and growth hormone releasing peptide, HisDTrpAlaTrpDPheLysNH2(GHRP). P-7492, P-7483, and P-7482 decreased, dose-dependently, the release of GH by GHRP (IC50 = 0.2 microM, 0.85 microM, and 6 microM, respectively). These antagonists had only a 10-15% inhibitory effect on the stimulated GH release of GHRH even at high dosage. DC21-366 decreased the stimulated release of GH by GHRH (IC50 = 0.16 microM) but not by GHRP. Neither SP nor Bn had GH releasing or inhibitory effects in this system.