Growth activities of the nasal septal cartilage in acromegaly

Growth activity in different areas of human septal cartilage was measured by in vitro incorporation of 35 S-labelled sulfate and 3 H-labelled thymidine in 6 acromegalic patients. Septal cartilage was obtained during transnasal hypophysectomy. The growth activities in the posterior area, which is situated anterior to the septo-ethmoidal junction were significantly enhanced compared to a control group of hormonally normal adults. Growth activities of the septal cartilage in the anterior free end and the suprapremaxillary area were not different in both groups. This indicates that growth hormone excess in acromegaly enhances human septal growth by stimulation of growth activities in the posterior area and not at the anterior free end and suprapremaxillary area.