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Pituitary Somatotrophs

Meaning

Pituitary somatotrophs are a specialized population of acidophilic endocrine cells strategically located within the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland, solely responsible for the synthesis and regulated secretion of Growth Hormone (GH), also known as somatotropin. These cells are the primary drivers of linear somatic growth during childhood and adolescence and maintain critical metabolic functions, including the regulation of body composition and glucose metabolism, throughout adult life. Their function is under the direct, bidirectional control of hypothalamic signaling peptides.