The endocrine response to ghrelin as a function of gender in XXXX in young and elderly subjects.

@entity1 @entity701 @entity413 @entity7704
Ghrelin modulates somatotroph, lactotroph, corticotroph, and insulin secretion and @entity413 metabolism. To clarify the influence of gender and age on the endocrine actions of ghrelin in @entity1 , we studied the effects of ghrelin (1.0 micro g/kg iv) or placebo on GH, prolactin (PRL), ACTH, @entity701 , insulin, glucagon, and @entity413 levels in 18 young subjects (YS) and 16 elderly subjects (ES) of both genders. The GH response to @entity7704 (1.0 micro g/kg iv) was also studied. The GH response to ghrelin in YS was higher (P < 0.01) than in ES and both higher (P < 0.01) than to @entity7704 , without gender-related differences. In YS ghrelin also induced: 1) gender-independent increase (P < 0.01) in PRL, ACTH, and @entity701 levels; 2) gender-independent increase in @entity413 levels (P < 0.01); 3) decrease (P < 0.01) in insulin levels in male YS; and 4) no change in glucagon. In ES, ghrelin induced gender-independent PRL, ACTH, and @entity701 responses (P < 0.01). In ES ghrelin elicited gender-independent transient decrease in insulin (P < 0.01) coupled with increase in @entity413 levels (P < 0.05). In conclusion, the GH-releasing effect of ghrelin is independent of gender but undergoes age-related decrease. The effect of ghrelin on lactotroph and corticotroph secretion is age and gender independent. In both ES and YS, ghrelin influences insulin secretion and @entity413 metabolism.
