Opiate peptides control growth hormone through a cholinergic mechanism in man.

Opiate peptides are known to elevate circulating GH in man, and data in other animals suggest that acetylcholine may be involved. We have administered the long-acting met-enkephalin analogue DAMME to 6 normal males, and have shown that the resulting elevation in GH is blocked by the specific cholinergic antagonist, pirenzepine. It seems likely that a cholinergic mechanism may interact with opiate-induced changes in GH in man.