Growth hormone

Microbiology

Growth hormone (GH) is an anabolic hormone secreted by the somatotroph cells of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. It has actions on multiple organ systems and is important in postnatal growth and development. Growth hormone is also responsible for changes in protein, lipid, and carbohydrate metabolism

	Notes	Further detail
Source	Anterior pituitary
Function	Postnatal growth and development Numerous actions on protein, carbohydrate and fat metabolism (including increasing lipolysis and gluconeogenesis)	Mechanism of action acts on a transmembrane receptor for growth factor binding of GH to the receptor leads to receptor dimerization acts directly on tissues and also indirectly via insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), primarily secreted by the liver
Regulation	Increases secretion growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH): released in pulses by the hypothalamus fasting exercise sleep Decreases secretion glucose somatostatin (itself increased by somatomedins, circulating insulin-like growth factors, IGF-1 and IGF-2)	Conditions associated with GH disorders excess GH: acromegaly GH deficiency: resulting in short stature