The GH, prolactin, ACTH and cortisol responses to Hexarelin, a synthetic hexapeptide, undergo different age-related variations.

Arvat E, Ramunni J, Bellone J, Di Vito L, Baffoni C, Broglio F, Deghenghi R, Bartolotta E, Ghigo E

European journal of endocrinology1 Dec 1997Cited by 25 (Europe PMC)

PMID9437229DOI10.1530/eje.0.1370635PepBankPUB-09437229

Publisher page PubMedAsk about this study

Summary

The text of this summary is not shown here, because the article license does not allow reuse. Read it at the source (opens in a new tab)

Text rights: Publisher copyright. Results still quote short attributed sentences.

Results from this study9

9 results from studies that gave the peptide. 9 results from people.

01HumanNon-randomized trialActivity measurement
The hexarelin-induced prolactin increase did not vary with age and was similar in prepubertal, pubertal, young and elderly groups.
In plain wordsHexarelin raised prolactin by a similar amount in all four age groups.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
No significant changePRL response, age-related variation
Study
n = 60
Outcome group
Hormone levels · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
2.0 micrograms/kg · intravenous · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
PRL AUC
512.1 micrograms*min/l
prepubertal children
PRL AUC
523.9 micrograms*min/l
elderly
Source sentences
Summary
HEX induced a significant PRL increase which, however, showed no age-related variations, being similar in Pre-C (512.1 +/- 88.0 micrograms*min/l), Pub-C (584.0 +/- 106.0 micrograms*min/l), Young (554.9 +/- 56.0 micrograms*min/l) and Elderly (523.9 +/- 59.6 micrograms*min/l).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
12 prepubertal children (Pre-C, 8 male, 4 female, age 5.8-12.1 years); 12 pubertal normal short children (Pub-C, 5 male, 7 female, age 9.7-15.5 years, pubertal stage II-IV); 20 normal young adults (Young, 6 males, 14 females, age 23-32 years); and in 16 normal elderly people (Elderly, 5 male, 11 fem…
Report a problemFND-0943722905
02HumanNon-randomized trialActivity measurement
The cortisol response to hexarelin showed no significant age-related variation across prepubertal, pubertal, young and elderly groups.
In plain wordsHexarelin raised cortisol by a similar amount in all four age groups.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
No significant changeCortisol response, age-related variation
Study
n = 60
Outcome group
Hormone levels · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
2.0 micrograms/kg · intravenous · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
On the other hand, the cortisol response to HEX showed no significant age-related variations, being not different in Pre-C (7747.2 +/- 1031.6 micrograms*min/l), Pub-C (6106.0 +/- 862.9 micrograms*min/l), Young (6827.5 +/- 509.6 micrograms*min/I) and Elderly (7950.6 +/- 658.3 micrograms*min/l).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
12 prepubertal children (Pre-C, 8 male, 4 female, age 5.8-12.1 years); 12 pubertal normal short children (Pub-C, 5 male, 7 female, age 9.7-15.5 years, pubertal stage II-IV); 20 normal young adults (Young, 6 males, 14 females, age 23-32 years); and in 16 normal elderly people (Elderly, 5 male, 11 fem…
Report a problemFND-0943722909
03HumanNon-randomized trialActivity measurement
In children, the GH response to hexarelin was clear in prepubertal children and strikingly higher in pubertal short children (P < 0.001).
In plain wordsIn children, hexarelin raised growth hormone more in pubertal short children than in prepubertal children.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
IncreaseGH response (0-120 min AUC), pubertal vs prepubertal children
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Prepubertal children
Outcome group
Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
2.0 micrograms/kg · intravenous · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
GH AUC 0-120 min
769.5 micrograms*min/l
prepubertal children
GH AUC 0-120 min
1960.2 micrograms*min/l
pubertal short children
Source sentences
Summary
The GH response to HEX was clear in Pre-C (0-120 min area under curve, mean +/- S.E.M. 769.5 +/- 122.2 micrograms*min/l) but strikingly increased (P < 0.001) in Pub-C (1960.2 +/- 283.5 micrograms*min/l).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
12 prepubertal children (Pre-C, 8 male, 4 female, age 5.8-12.1 years); 12 pubertal normal short children (Pub-C, 5 male, 7 female, age 9.7-15.5 years, pubertal stage II-IV); 20 normal young adults (Young, 6 males, 14 females, age 23-32 years); and in 16 normal elderly people (Elderly, 5 male, 11 fem…
Report a problemFND-0943722901
04HumanNon-randomized trialActivity measurement
The hexarelin-induced GH rise in young adults persisted similar to that in pubertal children.
In plain wordsIn young adults, hexarelin raised growth hormone about as much as in pubertal children.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
No significant changeGH response, young adults vs pubertal children
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Pubertal children
Outcome group
Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
2.0 micrograms/kg · intravenous · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
GH AUC
1829.7 micrograms*min/l
young adults
Source sentences
Summary
The HEX-induced GH rise in Young (1829.7 +/- 243.1 micrograms*min/l) persisted similar to that in Pub-C
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
12 prepubertal children (Pre-C, 8 male, 4 female, age 5.8-12.1 years); 12 pubertal normal short children (Pub-C, 5 male, 7 female, age 9.7-15.5 years, pubertal stage II-IV); 20 normal young adults (Young, 6 males, 14 females, age 23-32 years); and in 16 normal elderly people (Elderly, 5 male, 11 fem…
Report a problemFND-0943722902
05HumanNon-randomized trialActivity measurement
In elderly people, the hexarelin-induced GH rise was lower than in young adults (P < 0.005) and similar to that in prepubertal children.
In plain wordsIn elderly people, hexarelin raised growth hormone less than in young adults.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
DecreaseGH response, elderly vs young adults
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Young adults
Outcome group
Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
2.0 micrograms/kg · intravenous · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
GH AUC
951.1 micrograms*min/l
elderly
Source sentences
Summary
but decreased in Elderly (951.1 +/- 232.9 micrograms*min/I, P < 0.005); the latter was, in turn, similar to that in Pre-C
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
12 prepubertal children (Pre-C, 8 male, 4 female, age 5.8-12.1 years); 12 pubertal normal short children (Pub-C, 5 male, 7 female, age 9.7-15.5 years, pubertal stage II-IV); 20 normal young adults (Young, 6 males, 14 females, age 23-32 years); and in 16 normal elderly people (Elderly, 5 male, 11 fem…
Report a problemFND-0943722903
06HumanNon-randomized trialActivity measurement
Hexarelin induced a significant prolactin increase across the age groups.
In plain wordsIn children and adults, hexarelin raised prolactin.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
IncreasePRL response to hexarelin
Study
n: not reported in source
Outcome group
Hormone levels · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
2.0 micrograms/kg · intravenous · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Source sentences
Summary
HEX induced a significant PRL increase
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
12 prepubertal children (Pre-C, 8 male, 4 female, age 5.8-12.1 years); 12 pubertal normal short children (Pub-C, 5 male, 7 female, age 9.7-15.5 years, pubertal stage II-IV); 20 normal young adults (Young, 6 males, 14 females, age 23-32 years); and in 16 normal elderly people (Elderly, 5 male, 11 fem…
Report a problemFND-0943722904
07HumanNon-randomized trialActivity measurement
The ACTH-releasing activity of hexarelin was present in prepubertal children and clearly enhanced in pubertal children (P < 0.02).
In plain wordsIn children, hexarelin raised ACTH more in pubertal children than in prepubertal children.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
IncreaseACTH response, pubertal vs prepubertal children
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Prepubertal children
Outcome group
Hormone levels · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
2.0 micrograms/kg · intravenous · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
ACTH AUC
1356.6 pg*min/ml
prepubertal children
ACTH AUC
2253.5 pg*min/ml
pubertal children
Source sentences
Summary
The ACTH-releasing activity of HEX was present in Pre-C (1356.6 +/- 204.9 pg*min/ml) and was clearly enhanced (P < 0.02) in Pub-C (2253.5 +/- 242.8 pg*min/ml).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
12 prepubertal children (Pre-C, 8 male, 4 female, age 5.8-12.1 years); 12 pubertal normal short children (Pub-C, 5 male, 7 female, age 9.7-15.5 years, pubertal stage II-IV); 20 normal young adults (Young, 6 males, 14 females, age 23-32 years); and in 16 normal elderly people (Elderly, 5 male, 11 fem…
Report a problemFND-0943722906
08HumanNon-randomized trialActivity measurement
The ACTH rise after hexarelin in young adults was lower than in pubertal children (P < 0.02) and similar to that in prepubertal children.
In plain wordsIn young adults, hexarelin raised ACTH less than in pubertal children.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
DecreaseACTH response, young adults vs pubertal children
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Pubertal children
Outcome group
Hormone levels · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
2.0 micrograms/kg · intravenous · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
ACTH AUC
1258.1 pg*min/ml
young adults
Source sentences
Summary
The ACTH rise after HEX in Young (1258.1 +/- 141.2pg*min/ml) was lower (P < 0.02) than that in Pub-C and similar to that in Pre-C
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
12 prepubertal children (Pre-C, 8 male, 4 female, age 5.8-12.1 years); 12 pubertal normal short children (Pub-C, 5 male, 7 female, age 9.7-15.5 years, pubertal stage II-IV); 20 normal young adults (Young, 6 males, 14 females, age 23-32 years); and in 16 normal elderly people (Elderly, 5 male, 11 fem…
Report a problemFND-0943722907
09HumanNon-randomized trialActivity measurement
In elderly people, the ACTH response to hexarelin showed a trend toward increase and was similar to that in pubertal children.
In plain wordsIn elderly people, hexarelin raised ACTH by an amount similar to that in pubertal children.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
No significant changeACTH response, elderly
Study
n: not reported in source
Comparator
Pubertal children
Outcome group
Hormone levels · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
2.0 micrograms/kg · intravenous · single doseAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
ACTH AUC
1786.5 pg*min/ml
elderly
Source sentences
Summary
while the ACTH response to HEX in Elderly (1786.5 +/- 340.1 pg*min/ml) showed a further trend toward increase, being similar to that in Pub-C.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
12 prepubertal children (Pre-C, 8 male, 4 female, age 5.8-12.1 years); 12 pubertal normal short children (Pub-C, 5 male, 7 female, age 9.7-15.5 years, pubertal stage II-IV); 20 normal young adults (Young, 6 males, 14 females, age 23-32 years); and in 16 normal elderly people (Elderly, 5 male, 11 fem…
Report a problemFND-0943722908

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PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
13 Oct 2026, 21:44 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
13 Oct 2026, 16:31 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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