Biomedical subjects

E Rolandi

Publications and source records attributed to E Rolandi.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1987

Possible role of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide on prolactin release during suckling in lactating women.

The effect of suckling on plasma vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) values was evaluated in 6 nursing women on the 3rd to 4th day postpartum. Plasma prolactin (PRL) concentrations were also measured. Plasma VIP values (20.6 +/- 3.2 pg/ml in baseline) significantly (p less than 0.05) increased, reaching a maximum (53.5 +/- 10.9 pg/ml) 20 min after the starting of suckling. A possible role of VIP in the suckling-induced PRL release in humans cannot be excluded.

Female↗

PubMed1987

Somatostatin in the elderly: diurnal plasma profile and secretory response to meal stimulation.

Plasma somatostatin levels were determined during a 24-hour period and after a meal test in 7 and 5 elderly subjects (76-90 years), respectively. The data obtained were compared with those recorded in young adult subjects (22-30 years). Increased basal somatostatin values were found in elderly subjects (20.0 +/- 1.5 pg/ml) when compared to young adults (14.1 +/- 0.6 pg/ml; p less than 0.01). Also, the mean 24-hour somatostatin levels were higher in the elderly (21.3 +/- 0.8 pg/ml) than in young adults (16.7 +/- 0.5 pg/ml; p less than 0.01), and minor diurnal variations were found in the former group. The response to the meal test was less evident in the elderly than in the control group. The data obtained indicate an increased basal somatostatin production associated with a diminished variability throughout the 24-hour period and in relation to meals.

Adult↗

PubMed1987

Twenty-four-hour beta-endorphin secretory pattern in the elderly.

A chronobiological study was carried out in seven elderly male subjects (78-84 years) to evaluate the 24-h beta-endorphin secretory pattern. Seven young adult males (28-37 years) made up the control group. Blood samples were drawn every four hours from 08.00 to 20.00 h and every two hours from 24.00 to 06.00 h. ACTH and cortisol levels were also determined in the same plasma samples. Mean 24-h beta-endorphin values in the elderly (32.6 +/- 1.1 ng/l) and in the young adult male subjects (29.5 +/- 1.4 ng/l) did not differ statistically, but the circadian rhythm was absent in the elderly subjects. In the elderly, plasma ACTH and cortisol concentrations showed a circadian rhythm similar to that observed in the adult subjects. However, in the elderly patients, in contrast to that in the adult subjects, the multilinear regression analysis did not show any statistically significant correlation between the beta-endorphin, ACTH and cortisol 24-h plasma concentrations.

Adrenocorticotropic Hormone↗

PubMed1986

Diurnal beta-endorphin changes in human cerebrospinal fluid.

Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) beta-endorphin levels were determined by a RIA method in seven hydrocephalic male patients. The samples were simultaneously collected every two hours from 8 AM to 12 midnight and every hour from 1 AM to 7 AM. In both plasma and CSF beta-endorphin levels showed significant time-related variations during the 24 hour period. These results suggest the existence of diurnal CSF beta-endorphin variations analogous to those observed in plasma.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Inhibition of prolactin and aldosterone secretion by the dopamine derivative ibopamine.

In 7 patients with congestive heart failure acute oral administration of ibopamine, a new dopamine derivative, induced a significant decrease in serum prolactin and aldosterone without affecting serum growth hormone or cortisol. The Metoclopramide-induced secretion of prolactin and aldosterone was blunted in 6 patients pretreated with 200 mg ibopamine. The data are consistent with a dopaminergic effect of ibopamine due to a peripheral action, probably on D-2 receptors.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Suppression of testicular androgenesis by D-tryptophan-6-luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone does not affect TSH secretion in male subjects.

Basal and TRH-stimulated TSH secretion was evaluated in six patients suffering from prostatic cancer, before and after antiandrogenic treatment performed using a long-acting LHRH analogue, D-Trp-6-LHRH. Although serum testosterone values dropped to minimal levels after treatment, TSH secretion remained unchanged. Observed results suggest that pharmacological castration does not affect the regulatory mechanisms involved in the control of TSH secretion.

Aged↗

PubMed1986

Blunted response of serum aldosterone to metoclopramide in the male elderly.

Serum aldosterone values were determined in 6 elderly (70-82 years) and in 6 adult (31-43 years) male subjects after the intravenous administration of 10 mg of metoclopramide. A significant difference in the metoclopramide-induced serum aldosterone rise was found between the two groups, it being blunted in the older subjects (serum aldosterone peak values: 15.8 +/- 3.6 ng/dl and 38.7 +/- 4.9 ng/dl in elderly and in adult subjects, respectively). The existence of an impaired aldosterone secretion in response to dopaminergic blockade in the elderly is postulated.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

Treatment of prostatic cancer with a depot form of a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone analogue.

Chronic administration of a depot form of D-Trp6 luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH), an LH-RH analogue (3 mg i.m. every 28 days for a mean period of 9.1 months), to 14 patients with locally extended or metastatic cancer of the prostate provided a good degree of disease control. After a slight and transient increase in gonadotropin secretion, the peptide induced a sharp and long-lasting inhibition of both gonadotropin and testosterone secretion, contemporaneously with clinical improvement and without any important side effects. These results are comparable to those recorded by others after daily administration of LH-RH analogues.

Acid Phosphatase↗

PubMed1985

Variations of prolactin content in human cerebrospinal fluid after metoclopramide and morphine.

Serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) prolactin (PRL) concentrations were determined in fourteen patients of both sexes suffering from hydrocephalus, in basal conditions and after i.m. administration of 10 mg metoclopramide or 10 mg morphine. A significant increase in both serum and CSF hormone values was found after administration of both drugs. Serum and CSF PRL values after metoclopramide administration increased earlier and to a greater extent than after morphine. Furthermore, the metoclopramide induced CSF PRL increase immediately followed the serum peak, whereas after morphine administration an evident delay in the CSF hormone peak with respect to the serum increase was found. These data suggest that PRL entry in the CSF compartment is subject to a controlling mechanism which acts at the blood/brain barrier.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Comparison of pituitary responses to physical exercise in athletes and sedentary subjects.

Serum growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), cortisol, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were evaluated before and after a bicycle ergometer exercise test in 8 male competitive volleyball players and in 8 sedentary healthy males of the same age. Increased serum GH and cortisol values after exercise in both groups were found, whereas an exercise-induced PRL release was observed in athletes only. Serum levels of LH, FSH and TSH were unaffected by the test in all subjects. A possible role of training in conditioning the hypothalamopituitary exercise-induced secretion is suggested.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

Stimulation of growth hormone release by thyrotropin-releasing hormone in elderly subjects.

The effect of thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on the release of growth hormone (GH) was investigated in 16 elderly male subjects aged 74-88 years. Intravenous injection of 200 micrograms TRH induced a clear-cut GH rise (greater than or equal to 10 ng/ml) in 7 of 16 subjects. TRH administration did not raise plasma GH in 10 adult subjects aged 36-58 years. The results suggest disorders in neurobiochemical mechanisms regulating hypothalamopituitary function in elderly men.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

24-hour thyroid-stimulating hormone secretory pattern in elderly men.

A chronobiological study was carried out in 10 elderly male subjects (78-83 years) to evaluate the 24-hour thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) secretory pattern. 10 young adult males (26-35 years) made up the control group. Hourly blood samples were drawn from each subject for a 24-hour period. TSH levels in elderly subjects showed blunted circadian fluctuations compared to those seen in young adult subjects. Mean 24-hour TSH values in elderly (3.1 +/- 0.3 microU/ml) and young adult subjects (3.5 +/- 0.1 microU/ml) did not differ statistically, but nighttime TSH values observed in elderly subjects (3.2 +/- 0.3 microU/ml) were lower (p less than 0.05) than those recorded in young adults (4.1 +/- 0.1 microU/ml).

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Serum concentrations of PRL, GH, LH, FSH, TSH and cortisol after single administration to man of a new synthetic narcotic analgesic butorphanol.

The i.m. administration to 6 healthy adult male volunteers of 2 mg butorphanol, a potent synthetic opiate analgesic, resulted in a significant rise in serum PRL level, without affecting GH, LH, FSH, TSH or cortisol secretion. These effects indicate that in man butorphanol exerts an opiate agonist rather than an opiate antagonist effect at the hypothalamic and/or pituitary level.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Evaluation of anterior pituitary function in adult patients with craniopharyngiomas.

Serum LH, FSH, TSH, PRL, GH and cortisol levels were measured in 10 patients with a craniopharyngioma both before and after a combined insulin-induced hypoglycaemia, GnRH and TRH test. In pre-operative studies, only two patients did not show hormonal abnormalities, while eight patients had deficiencies of one or more hormones. The most frequent abnormality was GH deficiency (six cases), followed by gonadotropin (four cases), cortisol (four cases), and TSH (one case), whereas four patients showed high serum PRL values. In post-surgical studies, a significant improvement of pituitary function was observed in two cases, whereas an impairment of previously normal corticotropin reserve was recorded in another case. The data obtained suggest that endocrine abnormalities in patients with craniopharyngiomas are irreversible in most cases.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Pituitary secretion after administration of a new cerebroactive drug, fipexide.

The effect of a single oral dose of 400 mg fipexide on pituitary secretion was investigated in 10 elderly non-endocrine patients. Fipexide induced significant decrease (P less than 0.05) in serum prolactin (PRL) values at 90 and 120 min after drug administration, without affecting serum growth hormone (GH), gonadotropin (LH and FSH), thyrotropin (TSH) and cortisol values. Fipexide was unable to modify metoclopramide-induced PRL release in five of these patients. Our results show that this drug acts as a mild dopamine (DA) agonist, probably not directly affecting hypothalamic and/or pituitary DA receptors but indirectly via a reduced DA re-uptake at the pre-synaptic level.

Aged↗

PubMed1984

Diurnal prolactin changes in human cerebrospinal fluid.

Eight adult male patients suffering from hydrocephalus of differing aetiologies were investigated in order to detect the existence of diurnal variations of prolactin (PRL) concentration in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Blood and ventricular CSF samples were taken every 2 h during the day (0800-2200 h) and every hour during the night (2300-0700 h). CSF mean PRL levels showed significant nyctohemeral variations with low levels (2.1 +/- 0.3 ng/ml) during day-time and higher levels at night (3.3 +/- 0.1 ng/ml), similar to that observed in serum (PRL values: 16.4 +/- 5.2 and 24.8 +/- 4.3 ng/ml during day and night periods respectively). The presence of a 24 h CSF PRL secretory profile similar to that in serum was shown in six patients with normal 24 h mean PRL values and normal diurnal changes in serum. In two patients with an altered serum 24 h secretory pattern no significant nyctohemeral variations in CSF PRL levels were found. Present data show the existence in man of nyctohemeral variations in CSF PRL content related to the 24 h changes of PRL levels in serum.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Changes in pituitary secretion after administration of branched-chain amino acids to patients with hepatic cirrhosis.

Infusion of a mixture of branched-chain 1-amino acids (BCAA; isoleucine, leucine, and valine) in six male patients suffering from hepatic cirrhosis led to an increase in serum GH, while serum PRL was not affected. In the same patients arginine infusion stimulated GH and PRL release. These findings demonstrate that hypothalamo-pituitary responsiveness to amino acid stimulation is preserved in cirrhosis and that administration of these amino acids has some endocrine effect.

Adult↗

PubMed1983

Nyctohemeral pattern of serum LH, FSH and PRL in patients with myotonic dystrophy.

The nyctohemeral pattern of serum luteinizing (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and prolactin (PRL) in eight patients with myotonic dystrophy (MD) was studied. Gonadotropin patterns were classified as adult, pubertal or infantile. Six patients showed an adult pattern, whereas two had a pubertal or infantile pattern. A normal pattern of PRL secretion was found in seven patients and a blunted sleep-related hormonal increase was observed in one. Impaired hypothalamic control of pituitary secretion in MD is proposed as the cause for these findings.

Adult↗