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Updated: May 12, 2026
06:58
Culturing and Measuring Fetal and Newborn Murine Long Bones
Published on: April 26, 2019
Endocrine control of growth
Philip G Murray1, Peter E Clayton
1National Institute Health Research (NIHR), University of Manchester and Royal Manchester Children' Hospital, Manchester, UK.
Summary
Human growth involves distinct phases from fetal development through adolescence, regulated by hormones like insulin, growth hormone (GH), and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). Puberty involves the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis, crucial for completing growth and growth plate fusion.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Human Physiology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Human growth is a complex, multi-phase process from conception to adolescence.
- Hormonal regulation shifts across fetal, infancy, childhood, and puberty stages.
- Key endocrine factors include insulin, IGFs, GH, thyroid hormone, and sex steroids.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the hormonal mechanisms governing human growth across different life stages.
- To detail the roles of the GH-IGF-I axis and the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis in growth.
- To identify factors influencing growth plate fusion and pubertal growth spurt.
Main Methods:
- Review of endocrine control mechanisms in human growth.
- Analysis of hormonal signaling pathways involved in longitudinal growth.
- Examination of the interplay between different hormonal axes during development.
Main Results:
- Fetal growth is primarily influenced by insulin and IGFs.
- Childhood growth relies heavily on the GH-IGF-I axis and thyroid hormone.
- Puberty involves the GH-IGF-I axis and sex steroids, driving the growth spurt and plate fusion.
- Hormones like GHRH, somatostatin, Ghrelin, kisspeptin, and leptin modulate GH secretion and growth.
Conclusions:
- Human growth is orchestrated by a dynamic interplay of endocrine factors across developmental stages.
- The GH-IGF-I axis is central to childhood and pubertal growth.
- The activation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-gonadal axis is vital for pubertal maturation and growth completion.
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