Effects of dexamethasone and alprazolam, a benzodiazepine, on the stimulatory effect of hexarelin, a synthetic GHRP, on ACTH, cortisol and GH secretion in humans.

Arvat E, Maccagno B, Ramunni J, Di Vito L, Gianotti L, Broglio F, Benso A, Deghenghi R, Camanni F, Ghigo E

Neuroendocrinology1 May 1998Cited by 34 (Europe PMC)

PMID9641612DOI10.1159/000054328PepBankPUB-09641612

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

3 results from studies that gave the peptide. 3 results from people.

01HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In healthy young women, hexarelin increased ACTH secretion from baseline to peak.
In plain wordsIn healthy young women, hexarelin raised ACTH levels.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
IncreaseACTH after hexarelin
Study
n = 6
Comparator
Baseline
Outcome group
Pituitary hormones · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
2.0 microg/kg · intravenousAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
ACTH peak
28 pg/ml
after hexarelin
ACTH baseline
11.7 pg/ml
baseline
Source sentences
Summary
HEX administration elicited an increase in ACTH (peak vs. baseline, mean +/- SEM: 28.0 +/- 6.7 vs. 11.7 +/- 2.2 pg/ml, p < 0.05
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In 6 normal healthy young women (26-34 years) we studied the effects on ACTH and cortisol secretion of HEX (2.0 microg/kg i.v. at 0 min) alone and preceded by dexamethasone (DEXA, 1 mg p.o. at 23.00 h on the previous night) or alprazolam (ALP, 0.02 mg/kg p.o. at -90 min), a benzodiazepine which bind…
Report a problemFND-0964161201
02HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In healthy young women, hexarelin increased cortisol secretion from baseline to peak.
In plain wordsIn healthy young women, hexarelin raised cortisol levels.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
IncreaseCortisol after hexarelin
Study
n = 6
Comparator
Baseline
Outcome group
Pituitary hormones · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
2.0 microg/kg · intravenousAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
Cortisol peak
162.6 microg/l
after hexarelin
Cortisol baseline
137.7 microg/l
baseline
Source sentences
Summary
HEX administration elicited an increase in ACTH (peak vs. baseline, mean +/- SEM: 28.0 +/- 6.7 vs. 11.7 +/- 2.2 pg/ml, p < 0.05) and cortisol secretion (162.6 +/- 15.0 vs. 137.7 +/- 12.6 microg/l, p < 0.05).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In 6 normal healthy young women (26-34 years) we studied the effects on ACTH and cortisol secretion of HEX (2.0 microg/kg i.v. at 0 min) alone and preceded by dexamethasone (DEXA, 1 mg p.o. at 23.00 h on the previous night) or alprazolam (ALP, 0.02 mg/kg p.o. at -90 min), a benzodiazepine which bind…
Report a problemFND-0964161202
03HumanNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In healthy young women, hexarelin produced a clear GH response, with a peak at 15 minutes.
In plain wordsIn healthy young women, hexarelin caused a clear rise in growth hormone.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
IncreaseGH response to hexarelin
Study
n = 6
Comparator
Baseline
Outcome group
Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
2.0 microg/kg · intravenousAs given in this study (human).
Measurements
GH peak
65.5 microg/l
15 min
GH baseline
2.2 microg/l
baseline
Source sentences
Summary
HEX induced a clear GH response (peak at 15 min vs. baseline: 65.5 +/- 20.5 vs. 2.2 +/- 0.7 microg/l, p < 0.03)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In 6 normal healthy young women (26-34 years) we studied the effects on ACTH and cortisol secretion of HEX (2.0 microg/kg i.v. at 0 min) alone and preceded by dexamethasone (DEXA, 1 mg p.o. at 23.00 h on the previous night) or alprazolam (ALP, 0.02 mg/kg p.o. at -90 min), a benzodiazepine which bind…
Report a problemFND-0964161203

Studies that did not test the peptide alone6

In this study, Hexarelin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Hexarelin.

04HumanNot a test of Hexarelin aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In healthy young women, dexamethasone pretreatment abolished the ACTH response to hexarelin.
In plain wordsIn healthy young women, dexamethasone given first removed the ACTH rise caused by hexarelin.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
DecreaseACTH response to hexarelin after dexamethasone
Study
n = 6
Comparator
Hexarelin alone
Outcome group
Pituitary hormones · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
ACTH after hexarelin with dexamethasone
3.6 pg/ml
Source sentences
Summary
DEXA pretreatment strongly inhibited basal ACTH (3.2 +/- 0.7 pg/ml, p < 0.01) and cortisol levels (11.3 +/- 2.5 microg/l, p < 0.001) and abolished the ACTH and cortisol responses to HEX (3.6 +/- 0.9 pg/ml, p < 0.01 and 10.7 +/- 2.0 microg/l, p < 0.001), respectively.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In 6 normal healthy young women (26-34 years) we studied the effects on ACTH and cortisol secretion of HEX (2.0 microg/kg i.v. at 0 min) alone and preceded by dexamethasone (DEXA, 1 mg p.o. at 23.00 h on the previous night) or alprazolam (ALP, 0.02 mg/kg p.o. at -90 min), a benzodiazepine which bind…
In this study, Hexarelin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Hexarelin.
Report a problemFND-0964161204
05HumanNot a test of Hexarelin aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In healthy young women, dexamethasone pretreatment abolished the cortisol response to hexarelin.
In plain wordsIn healthy young women, dexamethasone given first removed the cortisol rise caused by hexarelin.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
DecreaseCortisol response to hexarelin after dexamethasone
Study
n = 6
Comparator
Hexarelin alone
Outcome group
Pituitary hormones · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
Cortisol after hexarelin with dexamethasone
10.7 microg/l
Source sentences
Summary
DEXA pretreatment strongly inhibited basal ACTH (3.2 +/- 0.7 pg/ml, p < 0.01) and cortisol levels (11.3 +/- 2.5 microg/l, p < 0.001) and abolished the ACTH and cortisol responses to HEX (3.6 +/- 0.9 pg/ml, p < 0.01 and 10.7 +/- 2.0 microg/l, p < 0.001), respectively.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In 6 normal healthy young women (26-34 years) we studied the effects on ACTH and cortisol secretion of HEX (2.0 microg/kg i.v. at 0 min) alone and preceded by dexamethasone (DEXA, 1 mg p.o. at 23.00 h on the previous night) or alprazolam (ALP, 0.02 mg/kg p.o. at -90 min), a benzodiazepine which bind…
In this study, Hexarelin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Hexarelin.
Report a problemFND-0964161205
06HumanNot a test of Hexarelin aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In healthy young women, alprazolam pretreatment abolished the ACTH response to hexarelin.
In plain wordsIn healthy young women, alprazolam given first removed the ACTH rise caused by hexarelin.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
DecreaseACTH response to hexarelin after alprazolam
Study
n = 6
Comparator
Hexarelin alone
Outcome group
Pituitary hormones · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
ACTH after hexarelin with alprazolam
8.6 pg/ml
Source sentences
Summary
On the other hand, ALP pretreatment did not significantly modify basal ACTH (7.9 +/- 2.0 pg/ml) and cortisol levels (127.6 +/- 14.5 microg/l) but abolished the HEX-induced ACTH and cortisol secretions (8.6 +/- 2.4 pg/ml, p < 0.05 and 111.0 +/- 6.0 microg/l, p < 0.05), respectively.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In 6 normal healthy young women (26-34 years) we studied the effects on ACTH and cortisol secretion of HEX (2.0 microg/kg i.v. at 0 min) alone and preceded by dexamethasone (DEXA, 1 mg p.o. at 23.00 h on the previous night) or alprazolam (ALP, 0.02 mg/kg p.o. at -90 min), a benzodiazepine which bind…
In this study, Hexarelin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Hexarelin.
Report a problemFND-0964161206
07HumanNot a test of Hexarelin aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In healthy young women, alprazolam pretreatment abolished the cortisol response to hexarelin.
In plain wordsIn healthy young women, alprazolam given first removed the cortisol rise caused by hexarelin.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
DecreaseCortisol response to hexarelin after alprazolam
Study
n = 6
Comparator
Hexarelin alone
Outcome group
Pituitary hormones · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
Cortisol after hexarelin with alprazolam
111 microg/l
Source sentences
Summary
On the other hand, ALP pretreatment did not significantly modify basal ACTH (7.9 +/- 2.0 pg/ml) and cortisol levels (127.6 +/- 14.5 microg/l) but abolished the HEX-induced ACTH and cortisol secretions (8.6 +/- 2.4 pg/ml, p < 0.05 and 111.0 +/- 6.0 microg/l, p < 0.05), respectively.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In 6 normal healthy young women (26-34 years) we studied the effects on ACTH and cortisol secretion of HEX (2.0 microg/kg i.v. at 0 min) alone and preceded by dexamethasone (DEXA, 1 mg p.o. at 23.00 h on the previous night) or alprazolam (ALP, 0.02 mg/kg p.o. at -90 min), a benzodiazepine which bind…
In this study, Hexarelin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Hexarelin.
Report a problemFND-0964161207
08HumanNot a test of Hexarelin aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In healthy young women, alprazolam pretreatment blunted the GH response to hexarelin.
In plain wordsIn healthy young women, alprazolam given first reduced the growth hormone rise caused by hexarelin.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
DecreaseGH response to hexarelin after alprazolam
Study
n = 6
Comparator
Hexarelin alone
Outcome group
Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
GH peak at 15 min after hexarelin with alprazolam
21.5 microg/l
Source sentences
Summary
which was blunted by ALP (peak at 15 min: 21.5 +/- 5.5 microg/l, p < 0.05)
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In 6 normal healthy young women (26-34 years) we studied the effects on ACTH and cortisol secretion of HEX (2.0 microg/kg i.v. at 0 min) alone and preceded by dexamethasone (DEXA, 1 mg p.o. at 23.00 h on the previous night) or alprazolam (ALP, 0.02 mg/kg p.o. at -90 min), a benzodiazepine which bind…
In this study, Hexarelin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Hexarelin.
Report a problemFND-0964161208
09HumanNot a test of Hexarelin aloneNon-randomized trialEfficacy outcome
In healthy young women, dexamethasone pretreatment did not modify the GH response to hexarelin.
In plain wordsIn healthy young women, dexamethasone given first did not change the growth hormone rise caused by hexarelin.
Peptide
Hexarelin
Outcome
No significant changeGH response to hexarelin after dexamethasone
Study
n = 6
Comparator
Hexarelin alone
Outcome group
Growth hormone and IGF-1 · Endocrine and hormones
Measurements
GH peak after hexarelin with dexamethasone
78.7 microg/l
Source sentences
Summary
while it was not modified by DEXA pretreatment (78.7 +/- 7.6 microg/l).
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
In 6 normal healthy young women (26-34 years) we studied the effects on ACTH and cortisol secretion of HEX (2.0 microg/kg i.v. at 0 min) alone and preceded by dexamethasone (DEXA, 1 mg p.o. at 23.00 h on the previous night) or alprazolam (ALP, 0.02 mg/kg p.o. at -90 min), a benzodiazepine which bind…
In this study, Hexarelin was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Hexarelin.
Report a problemFND-0964161209

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

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

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

Publication types

MeSH terms

PepBank is a research reference. Talk to a doctor before you use any peptide.