growth hormone

(noun)

any polypeptide hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that promotes growth and regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids

Related Terms

  • gigantism
  • dwarfism
  • somatostatin

Examples of growth hormone in the following topics:

  • Hormonal Regulation of Growth

    • Body growth is controlled by growth hormone (GH), produced by the anterior pituitary, and IGF-1, whose production is stimulated by GH.
    • Hormonal regulation is required for the growth and replication of most cells in the body.
    • GH release is stimulated by growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and is inhibited by growth hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH), also called somatostatin.
    • A balanced production of growth hormone is critical for proper development.
    • Oversecretion of growth hormone can lead to gigantism in children, causing excessive growth.
  • Hormonal Abnormalities and Height

    • Abnormal production of growth hormone due to tumors on the pituitary or other genetic causes can cause pathological changes in growth.
    • However, if these are not factors, then growth hormone deficiency may be the cause.
    • Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is a medical condition in which the body produces insufficient growth hormone.
    • Growth hormone, also called somatotropin, is a polypeptide hormone which stimulates growth and cell reproduction.
    • Growth hormone deficiency has no single definite cause.
  • Growth Factors

    • Growth factors, cytokines and hormones are all chemical messengers that mediate intercellular communication.
    • Growth factors are typically cytokines or hormones, but not all cytokines and hormones are growth factors.
    • A cytokine differs from a hormone in that it is not secreted from a gland.
    • As with cytokines some are involved with growth, such as growth hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland and may be classed as growth factors, but others are not.
    • The majority of growth factors shown above are cytokines such as GM-CSF, however the hormone EPO secreted by the kidney plays a key role in erythrocyte (red blood cell) proliferation.
  • Pituitary Gland Disorders

    • Disorders of pituitary gland can affect hormones which regulate growth and activity of other glands in the body.
    • Growth hormone (GH) excess is rare in children and is referred to as pituitary gigantism , because the excessive growth hormone produces excessive growth of bones and the child can achieve excessive height; from 2.1 to 2.7 m (6'11" to 8'11") in stature by adulthood if left untreated.
    • If elevated growth hormone levels occur before the closure of the epiphyses (i.e. in prepubertal children), then gigantism ensues.
    • Pituitary adenoma affects hormones which regulate growth and the activity of other glands in the body.
    • Measurement of ACTH and growth hormone usually requires dynamic testing, whereas the other hormones (LH/FSH, prolactin, TSH) can typically be tested with basal levels.
  • Lipid-Derived, Amino Acid-Derived, and Peptide Hormones

    • All hormones in the human body can be divided into lipid-derived, amino acid-derived, and peptide hormones.
    • The primary class of lipid hormones in humans is the steroid hormones.
    • Examples of steroid hormones include estradiol, which is an estrogen, or female sex hormone, and testosterone, which is an androgen, or male sex hormone.
    • This class also includes small proteins, such as growth hormones produced by the pituitary, and large glycoproteins, such as follicle-stimulating hormone produced by the pituitary .
    • The structures of peptide hormones (a) oxytocin, (b) growth hormone, and (c) follicle-stimulating hormone are shown.
  • The Anterior Pituitary

    • The anterior pituitary secretes seven hormones that regulate several physiological processes, including stress, growth, and reproduction.
    • The anterior pituitary regulates several physiological processes including stress, growth, reproduction, and lactation.
    • Follicle-stimulating hormone is a glycoprotein hormone that targets the gonads and effects the growth of the reproductive system.
    • Luteinizing hormone is a glycoprotein hormone that targets the gonads to effect sex hormone production.
    • Growth hormone is a polypeptide hormone that targets the liver and adipose tissue, which promotes growth through lipid and carbohydrate metabolism.
  • Hormone Functions

    • The endocrine system plays a role in growth, metabolism, and other processes by releasing hormones into the blood.
    • An animal's endocrine system controls body processes through the production, secretion, and regulation of hormones.
    • Target cells, those having a receptor for a signal, respond to a hormone when they express a specific receptor for that hormone.
    • Different tissue types may also respond differently to the same hormonal signal.
    • By releasing hormones, the endocrine system plays a role in growth, metabolism, and sexual development.
  • Hypothalamic-Pituitary Axis

    • The system releases hormones that act on target cells to regulate development, growth, energy metabolism, reproduction, and many behaviors.
    • The anterior pituitary produces seven hormones: growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), melanin-stimulating hormone (MSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH).
    • Anterior pituitary hormones are sometimes referred to as tropic hormones because they control the functioning of other organs.
    • These regulatory hormones can be releasing hormones or inhibiting hormones, causing more or less of the anterior pituitary hormones to be secreted.
    • Negative feedback then regulates how much of these regulatory hormones are released and how much anterior pituitary hormone is secreted.
  • Control of Thyroid Hormone Release

    • TSH release in turn is stimulated by thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) from the hypothalamus.
    • Resulting in increased metabolism, growth, development and activation of numerous other systems controlled by thyroid hormones.
    • Thyroid hormones also provide negative feedback to the hypothalamus and anterior pituitary gland.
    • Thyroid hormones are produced from the thyroid under the influence of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from the anterior pituitary gland, which is itself under the control of thyroptropin-releasing hormone (TRH) secreted by the hypothalamus.
    • Thyroid hormones provide negative feedback, inhibiting secretion of TRH and TSH when blood levels are high.
  • Onset, Duration, and Half-Life of Hormone Activity

    • Hormone half-life and duration of activity are limited and vary from hormone to hormone.
    • Hormone half-life and duration of activity are limited and vary from hormone to hormone.
    • This image depicts the levels of certain hormones during the menstrual cycle (B), as they correspond to follicular growth and ovulation (A)1.
    • Follicle-Stimulating Hormone 2.
    • Luteinizing Hormone 4.
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