Growth Hormone Drugs

Question 0

Somatostatin

Answer 0

Somatostatin: inhibits the release of growth hormone. Also inhibits the release of TSH and inhibits insulin and glucagon in the pancreas.

Question 1

Pegvisomant

Answer 1

Pegvisomant: Modified analog of growth hormone that acts as a receptor antagonist. Binding site 1 contains an amino acid substitution that improves the binding to the receptor, while binding site 2 contains a single amino acid substitution that blocks the conformational change of growth hormone receptor and thereby inhibits signal transduction. Can be used to treat conditions with excess growth hormone.

Question 2

Octreotride

Answer 2

Octreotride: Essentially a long lasting somatostatin used to inhibit pituitary secretion of growth hormone. Can be used to treat conditions of excess growth hormone.

Question 3

Recombinant IGF-1

Answer 3

Recombinant IGF-1: Causes growth of peripheral tissue and can bypass growth hormone receptor.

Question 4

Bromocriptine

Answer 4

Bromocriptine: Dopamine antagonist that inhibits the release of growth hormone from the pituitary. Can be used to treat conditions involving excess growth hormone.

Question 5

Sermorelin

Answer 5

Sermorelin: Analogue of growth hormone releasing hormone which is used diagnostically if one wants to test for growth hormone secretion to check if the anterior pituitary cells are responsive. Acts on the anterior pituitary to cause release of growth hormone.