Substance P stimulates Growth Hormone (GH) and GH-Releasing Hormone (GHRH) secretions through tachykinin NK2 receptors in sheep

Substance P is ubiquitous undecapeptide belonging to the tachykinins family. It has been found in the hypothalamus and is involved in the hypothalamo-hypophysial axis in several mammals, including human. Previous studies have shown that substance P increases GH secretions in rats and human. In this study, we have shown that intravenously infused substance P in sheep caused an increased level of Growth Hormone (GH) and GH-Releasing Hormone (GHRH), and decreased Somatotropin Release Inhibiting Hormone (SRIH) secretions. GH was obtained from peripheral blood. GHRH and SRIH were directly collected from hypophysial portal blood, using a trans-nasal surgery technique in a vigil sheep that allowed accessing to hypothalamo-hypophysial portal vessels. Hormones assays were performed by radioimmunoassay (RIA). Moreover, we showed that substance P-induced GH and GHRH secretion appears to be mediated by NK2 tachykinin receptors, since it is specifically blocked by a non peptidic tachykinin NK2 receptor antagonist (SR48968, Sanofi, Montpellier, France) whereas a non peptidic tachykinin NK1 antagonist (SR140333, Sanofi, Montpellier, France) failed to modify GH and GHRH hormones secretions.