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merrian

George R. Merriam, M.D.

Metabolism, Endocrinology and Nutrition

Professor of Medicine
Deputy Associate Chief of Staff for Research, Research Service, VA Puget Sound Health Care System


Focus

Neuroendocrine regulation of pituitary function, with emphasis on CNS control of growth hormone and gonadotropin secretion. The focus is on three areas of study: (1) the physiology of growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and GH-releasing peptides, the neurotransmitter interactions which regulate GH secretion, and the therapeutic role of GHRH in GH deficiency and aging; (2) the central regulation of female reproductive function, including the pathophysiology of disorders such as hypothalamic and lactational amenorrhea, hyperprolactinemia, late luteal phase dysphoric disorder, and luteal phase deficiency; and (3) the role of GH and growth factors in modulating ovarian function.


Publications

Merriam GR and Wachter KW: Algorithms for the study of episodic hormone secretion. Am J Physiology 243:E310-E318, 1982.

Gelato MC, Rittmaster R, Pescovitz O, D’Agata R, Nixon W, Loriaux DL, and Merriam GR: Effects of pulsatile administration of growth hormone-releasing hormone on short-term linear growth in children with growth hormone deficiency. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 61:444-450, 1985.

Pfeiffer DG, MacLusky NJ, Barnea E, Naftolin F, Krey LC, Loriaux DL, and Merriam GR: Are catechol estrogens obligatory mediators of estrogen action in the CNS? I. Characterizatio of pharmacological probes with different receptor binding affinities and catechol estrogen formation rates. J Endocrinol 110:489-497, 1986.

Schmidt PJ, Nieman LK, Grover GN, Muller KL, Merriam GR, and Rubinow DR: Lack of effect of induced menses on symptoms in women with premenstrual syndrome. N Engl J Med 324:1174-1179, 1991.

Batista MC, Cartledge TP, Zellmer A, Nieman LK, Merriam GR, and Loriaux DL: Evidence for a critical role of progesterone in the regulation of the midcycle gonadotropin surge and ovulation. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 74:565-570, 1992.

Chik CL, Almeida OFX, Libre EA, Booth JD, Renquist D, and Merriam GR: Photoperiod-driven changes in reproductive function in male rhesus monkeys. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 74:1068-1074, 1992.

Dunaif A, Givens J, Haseltine F, and Merriam GR (eds.) Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. Boston, Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1992.

Cassorla F, Mericq V, Garcia H, Cristiano AM, Avila A, Boric A, Iñiguez G, and Merriam GR: The effects of b 1-adrenergic blockade on the growth response to growth hormone-releasing hormone therapy in growth hormone deficient children. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 80:2997-3001, 1995.