The effect of atenolol on the growth hormone response to growth hormone-releasing hormone in obese children.

We have evaluated the effect of acute administration of atenolol, a selective beta-adrenergic antagonist, on the GH response to GHRH in nine obese children and in eight age-matched controls. The GH response to GHRH (1-29, 1 microgram/kg iv), evaluated both as the GH peak and as integrated area under the curve, was significantly lower in the obese children than in the controls. Pretreatment with atenolol (50 or 100 mg orally in subjects with body weight less than or greater than 40 kg, respectively, administered 120 min before the GHRH injection) significantly increased the GH response to GHRH in the obese subjects, such that their mean peak GH levels and mean integrated area under the curve after atenolol plus GHRH were similar to those of the control children after GHRH. Also in control children, atenolol caused a significant augmentation of the GH response to GHRH. Mean peak GH levels and mean integrated area under the curve after atenolol plus GHRH were significantly higher in the controls than in the obese children given the same treatment. These data show that inhibition of central beta-adrenergic receptors counteracts the blunted GH response to GHRH present in the obese children. In view of the alleged mechanism of action of beta-adrenergic blockade (inhibition of endogenous SRIH release), our data suggest that the somatostatinergic system is intact in obesity, and that the suppressed GH secretion is due to other causes.