HGH, or Human Growth Hormone (Somatotropin), is a peptide hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland that is essential for growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration in humans. It exerts its primary effects by stimulating the liver and other tissues to produce Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1), which mediates many of the growth-promoting and metabolic actions. HGH plays a crucial role in maintaining body composition, bone density, and glucose metabolism throughout the lifespan.
Origin
The term HGH is an abbreviation for Human Growth Hormone, a hormone whose existence and function were understood through decades of endocrinology research focused on pituitary function and childhood growth disorders. The ability to synthesize recombinant human growth hormone in the 1980s revolutionized the treatment of growth hormone deficiency. Its clinical and wellness applications are a major area of ongoing study in anti-aging and regenerative medicine.
Mechanism
HGH acts on target cells by binding to specific growth hormone receptors, initiating an intracellular signaling cascade, most notably the JAK-STAT pathway. A major component of its mechanism is the stimulation of IGF-1 synthesis in the liver, which then acts in an endocrine fashion to promote anabolic effects on muscle and bone tissue. HGH also directly influences metabolism by promoting lipolysis (fat breakdown) and opposing the action of insulin, thereby regulating blood glucose levels and energy balance.
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