Growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP) binding to porcine anterior pituitary and hypothalamic membranes.

The synthetic hexapeptide, His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2 (GHRP, Growth Hormone-Releasing Peptide), has no structural similarities with any of the GH-releasing peptides known and its action in releasing GH is by a complementary but yet not clearly defined action on the pituitary as well as hypothalamus. Therefore, in vitro studies have been performed to demonstrate and characterize GHRP binding sites on peripheral membranes of both porcine pituitary and hypothalamus. The membrane binding sites were specific, reversible, saturable and time, temperature, pH and concentration dependent under optimum binding assay conditions. The maximum specific binding was observed between pH 5.0 and 6.0. In the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions, with or without chelating agents there was a significant reduction in the specific binding. Scatchard analysis of these binding sites using increasing doses of unlabeled GHRP revealed a single low affinity site with a 2.1 x 10(-5) M and 1.7 x 10(-5) M and a maximum number of sites of 10 nmol/mg protein and 5 nmol/mg protein for pituitary and hypothalamus, respectively. It is also observed that (D-Lys3)-GHRP, substance P antagonists and growth hormone-releasing factor analog were potent inhibitors of GHRP binding in both tissues.

Demonstration and characterization of the specific binding of growth hormone-releasing peptide to rat anterior pituitary and hypothalamic membranes.

Since the growth hormone-releasing peptide (GHRP), His-D-Trp-Ala-Trp-D-Phe-Lys-NH2, was found to specifically release growth hormone by a complementary but yet not clearly defined action on the pituitary as well as the hypothalamus, in vitro studies have been performed to demonstrate and characterized GHRP binding sites on peripheral membranes of both the rat anterior pituitary and hypothalamus. Optimum binding assay conditions were established using [125I]Tyr-Ala-GHRP as the radioligand. The membrane binding sites were specific, reversible, saturable and time, temperature, pH and concentration dependent. Computerized analyses of competition experiments suggested two classes of binding sites in both pituitary and hypothalamic membranes. The maximum specific binding was observed at pH 5.0 than the physiological pH in both tissues. Pretreatment of the membranes with trypsin prevented specific binding. The increase in Bmax was statistically significant and showed a 2.0- to 8.9-fold and 5.8- to 11.2-fold in pituitary and hypothalamus, respectively, whereas the affinity constants (Kds) were not significant. Of the synthetic and natural neuropeptides that influence the release of GH from somatotrophs, only (D-Lys3)GHRP, substance P antagonists and growth hormone-releasing factor analog were potent inhibitors of GHRP binding in both tissues.