Effect of Synthetic Corticotropins on Human Growth Hormone Secretion

Human growth hormone (HGH) secretion occurred following the administration of Gly1-ACTH (1-18) octadecapeptide amide (50022-S) which was synthetized by Otsuka. The mean response curve of plasma HGH after the intravenous administration of 0.35mg of 50022-S in 23 healthy subjects was similar to that of plasma cortisol. A significant increase in plasma HGH to 0.35mg of 50022-S was observed, while there was no significant increase in plasma HGH to 0.25 mg of 1-24 ACTH, which is a corresponding dose to 0.35mg of 50022-S in cortisol response. In most of the patients who had dysfunction of hypothalamic-pituitary axis, no significant increase in plasma HGH to 0.35mg of 50022-S was observed. From these results, we conclude that Gly1-ACTH (1-18) octadecapeptide amide (50022-S) has a potency to release growth hormone from the pituitary in man.