Effects of growth hormone on phosphocalcium homeostasis and bone metabolism

In this review the effects of growth hormone (GH) on phosphocalcium homeostasis and bone metabolism are reported. Some in vitro effects of GH on chondrocytes and osteoblasts are discussed too. The main GH effects on phosphocalcium homeostasis are the permissive action on renal 1 alpha-hydroxylase activity by the hypophosphatemic stimulus and the antiphosphaturic effect by the stimulation of the maximum rate of renal tubular reabsorption of phosphate. On bone, GH is able to stimulate bone turnover and to increase bone mass. In addition, GH stimulates type I and type III collagen metabolism. In vitro, GH increases the proliferation of chondrocytes from the human growing cartilage together with the levels of interleukin-6 in the supernatant. The hormone increases also the proliferation of the human osteosarcoma-derived osteoblast-like cells and augments the osteocalcin levels in the supernatant. Thus, GH markedly influences phosphocalcium homeostasis and bone metabolism in childhood and adolescence. In addition, it is possible that GH continues to play a role in bone physiology during adulthood when final height is reached.