Human Growth Hormone

Growth hormone, also called somatotropin, somatotropic hormone, somatropin, STH, is one of the hormones synthesized by the anterior pituitary gland. It is usually referred to as polypeptide hormones, which also include placental lactogen and prolactin.

The effect of growth hormone on organs and tissues

This hormone is called "growth hormone" because in teenagers and children, as well as in those people who have not yet closed the growth zones in the skeleton, it initiates a significant acceleration of growth, Part due to the growth of tubular long bones. Somatropin has a strong anti-catabolic and anabolic effect, accelerates the synthesis of protein and the breakdown of fat, which contributes to the growth of the ratio of muscle mass to fat. In addition, this hormone is involved in the regulation of carbohydrate metabolism, since it can cause a significant increase in the amount of glucose in the blood, being a counterinsulant hormone. Such hormones are insulin antagonists by their action. Also, the effect of growth hormone on pancreatic cells, the effect of stimulation of calcium absorption by bones, the effect of stimulation of the immune system, and many others have been noted. Some of the effects are caused by the hormone itself, but most of them are mediated by insulin-like growth factors, mainly IGF-1( formerly known as somatomedin C), produced by the action of somatropin in the liver and stimulating rapid growth of internal organs.

Growth Hormone and Aging

In the course of many preliminary studies conducted in the early nineties, involving elderly people, it appeared that when an exogenous growth hormone is introduced, it is possible to improve the physical health of the elderly and even slow the aging process. These results were greatly exaggerated by the media and advertising. Further medical studies have shown that in fact, life expectancy increases with a reduced concentration of human growth hormone in the body or if the body cells have a decreased sensitivity to this hormone. Also, the life expectancy of the body increased with a decreased amount of IGF-1 during the intrauterine development.

Pathologies associated with growth hormone

Excess

In adults, a pathologically high level of growth hormone can lead to an increase in the size of the tongue( so-called acromegaly), coarsening of the facial features and thickening of the bones. This can lead to a number of complications, such as a reduction in muscle strength, an increase in insulin resistance of tissues, nerve compression( the so-called tunnel syndrome).One of the main causes of acromegaly is adenoma of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, which in most cases occurs already in adulthood, but in some cases it is possible in childhood, which leads to pituitary gigantism.

Disadvantage of

A small amount of growth hormone in the body in childhood is most often associated with genetic abnormalities and causes a decrease in growth rates( pituitary fascism), and can also slow puberty. With polyhormonic insufficiency, which may be associated with hypophyseal underdevelopment, there may be delays in mental development. In adults, a lack of growth hormones leads to an increased accumulation of body fat. Scientists have identified two genes, LHX3 and HESX1, responsible in the body for the development of the pituitary and other brain structures, as well as the PROP1 gene regulating the maturation of the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Failures and mutations in these genes may result in a lack of somatotropin or polyhormonic insufficiency. All this can lead to the development of Laron's syndrome. Signs of this disease are a sharp decrease in growth rates( proportional nanism), small face sizes and some other pathologies. Patients have a high concentration of growth hormone, but a low concentration of IGF-1 in the blood. This recessive-autosomal disease is quite rare and is mainly found in Ecuador and among Mediterranean peoples.