Effect of Short Term Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone in Healthy Men

Not Applicable

Completed

Brief Summary: The purpose of this trial is to examine the short-term effects of Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (GHRH, tesamorelin) administration in healthy men. We hypothesize that GHRH will increase GH pulse height and will not affect insulin sensitivity.

Detailed Description: The primary objective of this study is to determine the effects of growth hormone releasing hormone (Tesamorelin) on endogenous overnight growth hormone secretion and pulsatility, as well as insulin-stimulated glucose uptake. Healthy male subjects will receive 2mg Tesamorelin, subcutaneously, daily for two weeks. At baseline and after two weeks of treatment, we will assess overnight growth hormone by frequent sampling as well as insulin stimulated glucose uptake by clamp. Subjects will then stop the Tesamorelin and will return for an identical assessment after a 2 week withdrawal period.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Use of anti-diabetic agents, Megace, testosterone or any steroid use within 6 months of the study
Use of GH or growth hormone stimulating peptides within six months of starting the study
Change in lipid lowering or antihypertensive regimen within 3 months of screening
Fasting blood sugar > 126 mg/dL, SGOT > 2.5 times ULN, Hgb < 12.0 g/dL, creatinine > 1.4 mg/dL
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Severe chronic illness or active malignancy or history of pituitary malignancy or history of colon cancer
For men, history of prostate cancer or evidence of prostate malignancy by PSA > 5 ng/mL
Prior history of hypopituitarism, head irradiation or any other condition known to affect the GH axis
Weight < 110 lbs.

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone	Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (Tesamorelin)	Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone (Tesamorelin) 2mg by subcutaneous injection once daily

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Mean Overnight Growth Hormone	at 2 weeks (i.e., after 2 weeks of treatment)	Outcome is mean overnight growth hormone at 2 weeks (i.e., following 2 weeks of treatment with growth hormone releasing hormone). Growth hormone was measured overnight (from 8pm-7:40am) by frequent blood sampling, and the mean is the average of these frequent measurements. The mean measurement at 2 weeks is given here, and, in the statistics section, is statistically compared with the mean measurement before treatment.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Insulin Stimulated Glucose Utilization	at 2 weeks (i.e., after 2 weeks of treatment)	Insulin stimulated glucose uptake (M) is the amount of glucose (measured in mg per kg body weight per minute) taken up during the steady state period of a euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp. This measure was calculated for minutes 100-120 of euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp procedure at 2 weeks (i.e., after 2 weeks treatment with growth hormone releasing hormone). The measurement at 2 weeks is given here, and, in the statistics section, is statistically compared with the measurement before treatment.