TISSUE GROWTH HORMONE RELEASE INHIBITING HORMONE-LIKE IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN EXPERIMENTAL HYPOTHYROIDISM AND HYPOPITUITARISM

Hypothyroidism in rats was associated with an increase in immunoreactive GH-RIH in brain, pancreas and gut, although release from the latter may be diminished as portal GH-RIH-like immunoreactivity was lower than control values. Hypophysectomy resulted in a depletion of immunoreactive GH-RIH in the septum and preoptic area of the brain and gastric antrum, but an increase in pancreas; portal venous GH-RIH-like immunoreactivity was not different from control concentrations, possibly reflecting both elevated and lowered immunoreactive GH-RIH in different regions of tissue subserved by the portal vein. Inferior vena caval GH-RIH-like immunoreactivity was always lower than in the portal vein and was not influenced by tissue pertubations in hypothyroidism and hypopituitarism which made regional blood sampling of great important in evaluating tissue changes.