Int J Sports Med 2000; 21(Suppl 2): 125-128
DOI: 10.1055/s-2000-8503
Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart ·New York

Neuroregulation of Growth Hormone During Exercise in Children

M. Cappa,  C. Bizzarri,  C. Martinez,  O. Porzio,  G. Giannone,  A. Turchetta,  A. Calzolari
  • Auxology Unit and Sport Medicine Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Palidoro and Rome, Italy
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2000 (online)

Physical exercise is an important physiological stimulus to growth hormone (GH) release in man. Many neurotransmitters are involved in GH regulation. We studied the effect of the cholinergic pathway on GH secretion induced by physical exercise. Particularly, we studied the effect of a cholinergic muscarinic agonist on GH-induced physical exercise, both in children and adults. Moreover, we investigated the refractoriness of GH secretion after a second physical exercise stimulus. Three different protocols were performed: 1) GH response to physical exercise in children and adults; 2) effect of pyridostigmine on exercise-induced GH secretion in children and adults; 3) GH response to two consecutive exercises in children and adults. Our data show that in children GH peak after physical exercise is higher than in adults. Pyridostigmine enhances GH release in children and in adults. Exercise stimulus was able to release GH in the second test only in children, while the refractory phase did not permit a new GH release in adults. The shift to a modality of neural control of GH secretion peculiar of adults is likely due to neuroregulatory mechanisms which may be partly dependent on long-term variation in hormonal milieu.

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M. Cappa,M.D. 

Modulo di Auxologia Ospedale Pediatrico del Bambino Gesù IRCCS

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