Growth hormone release by glycine injected intravenously in 22 healthy sexually immature children.

A solution of 10% glycine (250 mg/kg of body weight) was injected in within 5-10 minutes in 22 healthy, sexually immature children who were previously tested for insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Blood specimens were collected before, 10, 30, 60 and 120 minutes after injection for glucose, HGH and total alpha-amino nitrogen determination. The mean peak post-glycine level of serum HGH was 11.47 +/- 1.558 ng/ml (+/- SEM) and did not differ significantly from the corresponding post-insulin mean value (15.63 +/- 0.247 ng/ml). The highest post-stimulatory mean value (8.88 +/- 1.694 ng/ml) was observed 30 minutes after the end of the injection of glycine. Glycine is a reliable GH stimulating agent, which may be tentatively used for detection of hyposomatotropism in children.