Effect of levodopa and pyridostigmine bromide on secretion of pituitary growth hormone

Objective: To observe the effect of levodopa and pyridostigmine bromide on secrection of pituitary growth hormone (hGH). Methods: The control group of 20 normal children and pituitary gnome group of 30 patients were included in this study. The two groups took levodopa and pyridostigmine bromide respectively as stimulants for pituitary secretion. The serum samples were obtained 30, 60, 90, 120 minutes after taking the two medicines and the serum hGH level was determined using RIA method. The estimating standard is hGH peak value 10 ng/ml as positive. Results: After stimulated with levodopa and pyridostigmine bromide the hGH peak value of normal children were 32.4 ± 22.6 and 27.7 ± 13.6 ng/ml respectively. There was no statistical difference between the two peak values (P 0.05). There were no secretion peak value or the peak value 10 ng/ml observed in the pituitary gnome. Conclusions: Levodopa and pyridostigmine bromide have obvious stimulative effect on pituitary secretion of hGH, and may be used as stimulants in hGH stimulation test.