Evaluation of pulsatile patterns of growth hormone release in humans: A brief review

Growth hormone (GH) is an important metabolic hormone, which stimulates net protein anabolism, lipolysis, and linear bone growth. Pulses of GH secretion arise from interactions of hypothalamic GH-releasing hormone and somatostatin at the somatotroph cell in the anterior pituitary gland. The frequency and amplitude of GH pulses are regulated by multiple factors including age, geneder, pubertal status, menstrual cycle phase, body composition, sleep, nutrition, and exercise. In diseases such as obesity, type I diabetes mellitus, hypo- and hyperthyroidism, Turner's syndrome, uremia, liver failure, and acromegaly the pulsatile secretion of GH and/or its metabolic clearance rate are altered. Deconvolution analysis of serum GH concentrations measured in blood obtained at frequent intervals has made it possible to simultaneously resolve subject-specific metabolic clearance rates and the number, amplitude, duration, and mass of GH secretory bursts. Such analyses have provided new insights into the mechanisms regulating pulsatile patterns of GH release in human health and disease. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.