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Growth Hormone Releasing Factors

Meaning

Growth Hormone Releasing Factors (GHRFs) are a class of peptides, both endogenous and synthetic, that stimulate the secretion of growth hormone (GH) from the somatotroph cells located in the anterior pituitary gland. The primary endogenous GHRF is Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GHRH), secreted by the hypothalamus, which acts to initiate the pulsatile release of GH. Clinically, synthetic GHRFs are used to enhance the body’s natural GH production, offering a physiological approach to addressing age-related somatopause, or GH decline.