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Growth and growth hormone secretion
C G Brook1, P C Hindmarsh, R Stanhope
1Endocrine Unit, Cobbold Laboratories, Middlesex Hospital, London.
The Journal of Endocrinology
|November 1, 1988
Insights
Growth hormone
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Endocrinology
- Growth Hormone Physiology
- Child Development
Background:
- Growth hormone pulse amplitude is crucial for childhood growth.
- Adrenal androgens, nutrition, and sex steroids modulate growth hormone's effects.
- Understanding growth hormone's role across different life stages is essential.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the intricate relationship between growth hormone secretion and action.
- To highlight the key factors influencing growth hormone's impact throughout childhood and adolescence.
- To emphasize the need for detailed investigation into growth hormone regulatory mechanisms.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on growth hormone physiology.
- Analysis of the interplay between growth hormone and other hormones (adrenal androgens, sex steroids).
- Examination of nutritional influences in infancy and hormonal synergism in adolescence.
Main Results:
- Growth hormone's effects are most pronounced in middle childhood.
- Nutrition is vital in infancy for growth.
- Sex steroids are important for the adolescent growth spurt.
Conclusions:
- Further research into the mechanisms of growth hormone secretion and action is warranted.
- Key regulators include GHRH, somatostatin, insulin, and IGF-I.
- A comprehensive understanding of these mechanisms is critical for addressing growth disorders.
Abstract:
Growth hormone pulse amplitude is intimately connected with growth in childhood. Its effects are most clear in middle childhood, although the influence of adrenal androgens is probably also important. In infancy, nutrition plays an important part and, in the adolescent growth spurt, the synergism with sex steroids is important. Detailed attention needs now to be focussed on the mechanisms by which growth hormone is secreted and has its action; these include the effects of GHRH, somatostatin, insulin and IGF-I.