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Provocative Stimulation of Growth Hormone: A Monozygotic Twin Study Discordant for Spinal Cord Injury

J Spinal Cord Med, 2007 · DOI: · Published: January 1, 2007

Spinal Cord InjuryEndocrinology

Simple Explanation

This study investigates growth hormone (GH) response in twins where one twin has a spinal cord injury (SCI) and the other does not. Researchers used arginine to stimulate GH release and compared the response between the twins. The twins with SCI showed a blunted GH response compared to their non-SCI twins, suggesting that SCI impacts the body's ability to release GH. The study also found a relationship between body fat and GH response in the SCI twins, which differed from the relationship observed in the non-SCI twins.

Study Duration
Not specified
Participants
Nine pairs of monozygotic twins, discordant for SCI
Evidence Level
Not specified

Key Findings

  • 1
    Twins with SCI had a significantly lower body mass index (BMI) than non-SCI twins.
  • 2
    Percent fat mass was greater in the twins with SCI compared to their non-SCI counterparts.
  • 3
    The peak GH response to arginine stimulation was significantly lower in the twins with SCI.

Research Summary

This study confirms and extends prior work that reported a reduction in stimulated GH release in persons with SCI, which was related to baseline values. The study found that twins with SCI have markedly reduced GH release after provocative testing compared with the non-SCI co-twins. There seems to be a trend toward greater GH release after provocative testing directly related to body adiposity in the twins with SCI.

Practical Implications

Potential Therapeutic Targets

The reduced GH release in individuals with SCI may contribute to adverse body composition changes, suggesting potential therapeutic targets to improve body composition and function.

Further Research Needed

Further studies are needed to investigate the effects of pharmacologically increasing GH or IGF-I levels on body composition, function, and independence in persons with SCI.

Baclofen Investigation

Further study is needed before recommending baclofen administration to favorably effect the GH–IGF-I axis, as well as potential salutary effects on body composition and function, in persons with SCI.

Study Limitations

  • 1
    Limited number of twin pairs studied
  • 2
    Plasma IGF-I levels were not significantly different between the groups.
  • 3
    The effect of pharmacologically increasing levels of circulating GH or IGF-I on body composition, function, and independence in persons with SCI has not yet been studied.

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