What is the Origin of Growth Hormone (GH)?

The hormone's name is derived directly from its primary and most recognizable function in promoting somatic growth, a role that became a major focus of endocrinology research throughout the 20th century. The alternative name, somatotropin, originates from the Greek words soma (body) and tropos (turning or change), clearly denoting its profound influence on overall body structure and composition.

What is the Mechanism of Growth Hormone (GH)?

Growth Hormone primarily exerts its powerful anabolic and metabolic effects indirectly by stimulating the liver and other peripheral tissues to produce Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), which acts as the major mediator of growth and cellular proliferation. GH also exhibits direct effects on adipose tissue, significantly promoting the breakdown of fats (lipolysis), and influences carbohydrate metabolism, often counteracting insulin action to help maintain blood glucose levels. This dual, coordinated mechanism ensures the systemic regulation of energy substrates and tissue maintenance.

Growth Hormone (GH)

Meaning

Growth Hormone (GH), also scientifically termed somatotropin, is a critical single-chain polypeptide hormone secreted in a pulsatile pattern by the somatotroph cells situated in the anterior pituitary gland. While it is widely known for its essential role in linear growth during childhood, GH is equally vital in adult life for maintaining metabolic homeostasis, stimulating protein synthesis, and regulating lipolysis. Its precise, pulsatile release is integral to its multifaceted physiological function and is tightly controlled by complex neuroendocrine feedback loops.