What is the Origin of GHRHR Receptor?

The existence of a hypothalamic factor controlling growth hormone release was hypothesized in the mid-20th century, and the GHRH peptide and its corresponding receptor were definitively identified and cloned in the 1980s. The acronym GHRHR stands for Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone Receptor, directly indicating its ligand and function within the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.

What is the Mechanism of GHRHR Receptor?

Upon binding of GHRH to the GHRHR on the pituitary somatotroph, the receptor undergoes a conformational change that activates an intracellular G-protein, leading to an increase in cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and subsequent calcium influx. This second messenger cascade triggers both the transcription of the GH gene and the immediate exocytosis, or release, of stored growth hormone into the systemic circulation. Genetic mutations in the GHRHR gene can lead to growth hormone deficiency and resultant short stature.

GHRHR Receptor ∞ Area

GHRHR Receptor

Meaning

The GHRHR Receptor, or Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone Receptor, is a G protein-coupled receptor found primarily on somatotroph cells in the anterior pituitary gland, which is responsible for mediating the stimulatory effects of GHRH. Activation of this receptor is the central physiological signal that initiates the synthesis and pulsatile release of growth hormone (GH), a crucial anabolic and metabolic hormone that profoundly impacts body composition, bone density, and overall vitality throughout life.