Estradiol Potentiates Ghrelin-Stimulated Pulsatile Growth Hormone Secretion in Postmenopausal Women

Context: Ghrelin and an estrogen-rich milieu individually amplify pulsatile GH secretion by increasing the amount of hormone released per burst. However, how these distinct agonists interact in controlling pulsatile GH output is not known. Objective: The objective of the study was to test the hypothesis that elevated estradiol (E2) concentrations potentiate hypothalamo-pituitary responses to a near-physiological ghrelin stimulus. Design: This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled, prospectively randomized, parallel-cohort study. Setting: The study was conducted at an academic medical center. Subjects: Twenty-one postmenopausal women participated in the study. Interventions: Eleven subjects received placebo (Pl) and 10 others E2 transdermally in escalating doses over 3 wk to mimic late follicular-phase E2 concentrations. Saline or a submaximally stimulatory amount of ghrelin (0.3 μg/kg) was infused iv on separate randomly ordered mornings fasting after 17–21 d of Pl or E2 administration. Outcomes: Outcome...