Failure of Somatostatin to Suppress Thyrotropin Releasing Factor and Luteinizing Hormone Releasing Factor-Induced Growth Hormone Release in Acromegaly.

The effect of somatostatin on thyrotropin releasing factor or luteinizing hormone releasing factor-induced growth hormone (GH) release was studied in 4 acromegalic patients. The increase in plasma GH induced by these nonspecific releasing factors still occurred despite somatostatin administration at a dose double the one sufficient to markedly decrease plasma GH levels in acromegalics and to completely suppress hypoglycemia or arginine-induced GH release in normals.