Effects of growth hormone-releasing factor and(or) thyrotropin-releasing hormone on growth, feed efficiency, carcass characteristics, and blood hormones and metabolites in beef heifers.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of long-term administration of a growth hormone (GH)-releasing factor analog (GRFa) and(or) thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) on growth, feed efficiency, carcass characteristics, and blood hormones and metabolites in beef heifers. Crossbred heifers (n = 48; 345.9 +/- 2.

Synthesis and biological activity of novel C-terminal-extended and biotinylated growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF) analogs.

A series of novel hGRF(1-29)-NH2 analogs were synthesized and biotinylated. The immunological and biological activities of these analogs were then characterized. To distance the biotin moiety from the putative bioactive core, a C-terminal spacer arm consisting of -Gly-Gly-Cys-NH2 (-GGC) was added to hGRF(1-29)-NH2 (hGRF29) and analogs, with subsequent biotinylation performed at the cysteine residue.

Solution structures of cyclic and dicyclic analogues of growth hormone releasing factor as determined by two-dimensional NMR and CD spectroscopies and constrained molecular dynamics.

Solution structures were determined for a linear analogue of growth hormone releasing factor (GRF), and cyclic and dicyclic analogues in which the side chains of aspartyl and lysyl residues spaced at positions i-(i + 4) were joined to form a lactam. The four analogues were [Ala15]-GRF-(1-29)-NH2 and its cyclo8-12, cyclo21-25, and dicyclo8-12;21-25 derivatives. The peptides were studied in two solvent systems: 75% methanol/25% water at pH 6.

Effects of growth hormone-releasing factor and vasoactive intestinal peptide on proliferation and steroidogenesis of bovine granulosa cells.

Recent studies have suggested that growth hormone-releasing factor (GRF), like vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), may enhance follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)-stimulated steroidogenesis in cultured rat granulosa cells (GC). Because effects of GRF or VIP on GC proliferation have not been reported, we evaluated and compared the effect of GRF to that of VIP using cultured bovine GC. Undifferentiated GC from 1-5 mm bovine follicles were established for 2 days in medium containing 10% fetal calf serum, washed and then cultured in chemically defined medium for an additional 2 days.

Effect of human growth hormone-releasing factor and a potent analog on antibody formation in African green monkeys.

African Green monkeys were injected (2 x daily subcutaneously for six months) with human GRF(1-44)-NH2 (10 micrograms/kg BW) or a more potent analog, [desNH2Tyr1,Ala15]-hGRF(1-29)-NH2 (2 micrograms/kg BW) to determine the potential of each peptide to induce antibody formation. Blood samples were taken every two weeks, diluted 1:100 and tested for ability to bind radioiodinated hGRF. One animal in the hGRF(1-44)-NH2 group [N = 6] produced low-titer GRF antibodies by 6 weeks (19% binding) and continued throughout the 24 weeks of treatment (average = 50-60% binding).