 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
||||
 |
 |
 |
||
This review examines some interesting ‘new’ history of insulin and reviews our current understanding of its physiological actions and synergy with growth hormone in the regulation of metabolism and body composition. It reviews the history of growth hormone abuse that antedates by many years the awareness of endocrinologists to its potent anabolic actions. Promising methods for detection of growth hormone abuse have been developed but have yet to be sufficiently well validated to be ready for introduction into competitive sport. So far there are two promising avenues for detecting growth hormone abuse. The first uses immunoassays that can distinguish the isomers of pituitary derived growth hormone from the monomer of recombinant human growth hormone. The second works through demonstrating circulating concentrations of one or more growth hormone sensitive substances that exceed the extremes of normal physiological variability. Both methods require blood rather than urine samples. The first method has a window of opportunity lasting about 24 h after an injection and is most suitable for ‘out of competition’ testing. The second method has reasonable sensitivity for as long as two weeks after the last injection of growth hormone and is uninfluenced by extreme exercise and suitable for post- competition samples. This method has a greater sensitivity in men than in women. The specificity of both methods seems acceptably high but lawyers need to decide what level of scientific probability is needed to obtain a conviction. Both methods need further validation before implementation. Research work carried out as part of the fight against doping in sport has opened up a new and exciting area of endocrinology.
If you have not previously downloaded PDF files we suggest you access our Advice page for further information.
Journal of Endocrinology
Return to the Contents List - Vol. 170 Part 1
or
The List of Reviews and Commentaries
