Growth hormone release by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and gamma-amino-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (GABOB) in the rat.

Effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and gamma-amino-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (GABOB) on growth hormone (GH) release were investigated in the urethaneanesthetized male rat. An intraventricular injection of GABA and L-GABOB but not D-GABOB caused a significant increase in plasma GH. An intravenous injection of L-GABOB, at the dose which had no significant effect on basal plasma GH, remarkably enhanced plasma GH response to pentobarbital. These results suggest that GABA and L-GABOB stimulate GH release possibly via the central nervous system in the rat.