Growth hormone

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growth hormone

Dictionary: growth hormone

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n. (Abbr. GH)

1. A polypeptide hormone secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland that promotes growth of the body, especially by stimulating release of somatomedin, and that influences the metabolism of proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids. Also called human growth hormone, somatotropic hormone, Also called somatotropin.
2. Any of various natural or synthetic substances that regulate the growth of animals or plants, such as pituitary growth hormone in vertebrates and auxins in plants.


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Britannica Concise Encyclopedia:
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Peptide hormone secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. It promotes growth of bone and other body tissues by stimulating protein synthesis and fat breakdown (for energy). Excessive production causes gigantism, acromegaly, or other malformations; deficient production results in dwarfism, dramatically relieved if GH is given before puberty. Genetic engineering techniques now permit large-scale production of adequate amounts of GH for that purpose.

For more information on growth hormone, visit Britannica.com.

World of the Body:
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Growth hormone also called somatotrophin, is secreted from the anterior part of the pituitary gland. It is a major product of the gland, which contains 5 mg of the hormone (about 10% of its dry weight). As the name implies, growth hormone is important in controlling linear growth and, together with the thyroid hormones and the sex hormones, is important in determining the final height and development of an individual. It also has a role in controlling metabolism of foodstuffs, so that lack of the hormone in children results in short stature with the whole body in proportion, whereas deficiency in the adult results in weakness and depression.

Growth stops when the epiphyses (ends) of the bones fuse to the main shaft between them. Oversecretion before this occurs results in gigantism, whereas oversecretion afterwards results in acromegaly, a condition characterized by coarsening of the facial features and enlargement of the hands and feet. Interest in dwarfism, gigantism, and acromegaly has spanned the centuries; literature, especially for children, is filled with stories about dwarfs and giants, while Old Testament writings have several descriptions of giants. A study of paintings can also reveal subjects with disturbances of growth hormone secretion. A portrait from about 1365 bc of Tutankhamun's father-in-law illustrates some of the chacterisitics of acromegaly, but it was not until the late eighteenth century that Saucerette, a French surgeon, described a subject with features suggestive of this condition. During the nineteenth century a number of reports appeared and the term ‘acromegaly’ was coined in 1886 by Pierre Marie. In the following year, Minkowski (who also performed some of the early experiments important in the discovery of insulin) noted that acromegaly was associated with a pituitary tumour. Such tumours are now known to be the cause of gigantism and acromegaly. Once this was established, surgical treatment of the condition began to be attempted in the 1890s. In 1912 Cushing, a famous American neurosurgeon who also made major contributions to endocrinology, pioneered the technique of operating on pituitary tumours via the nasal route.

The nasal approach to the pituitary is possible because the gland itself lies in the midline at the base of the brain. Part of the visual pathway, the ‘optic chiasma’, lies in front of the pituitary, so a spreading tumour may lead to visual defects. This could explain why Goliath of Gath failed to see the pebble launched by David.

Growth hormone is a large peptide of 191 amino acids and is relatively species-specific, so only primate growth hormone is effective in man. This meant that until 1985, when it became possible to synthesize it, treatment of short stature employed growth hormone extracted from human pituitaries. As with some preparations of human gonadotrophins previously used in fertility treatment, some of the preparations were contaminated, leading to 1 in 1000 patients developing Creuzfeld Jacob disease, resulting in dementia and death. Currently biosynthetic growth hormone is employed.

Growth hormone is always detectable in the plasma of healthy individuals throughout life; it is not secreted continuously over the 24 hours, but in bursts. The most marked increase follows the onset of sleep, so there may be a basis for the old wives' tale that you will not grow if you do not get a good night's sleep. The hormone is present in the fetus, but does not appear to be necessary for growth until soon after birth. Its release is increased in puberty, at an earlier stage in girls than in boys. Secretion of growth hormone is controlled by the hypothalamus, a region of the brain which is important in regulating many functions including a major role in the response to stress: growth hormone is released in response to a number of stresses such as exercise, anaesthesia, and surgery. Prolonged stress may however suppress growth hormone release, so that children with marked emotional deprivation can show secondary growth failure. One such case is said to be Sir James Barrie who was short of stature and may have had some affinity with his creation, Peter Pan.

Release is stimulated in response to a rapid fall in blood glucose, which can be produced by an injection of insulin in a clinical test for growth hormone secretion. The hypothalamus controls growth hormone secretion by means of its own secretion of two peptides; somatostatin, which inhibits secretion, and growth hormone releasing hormone, which is stimulatory; these hormones reach the nearby anterior pituitary through local blood vessels.

Growth hormone stimulates the growth of the long bones, not directly but through the action of somatomedins, which are insulin-like growth factors made in the liver, and which also inhibit release of the hormone. It has a direct effect on metabolic processes throughout the body, supporting growth through enhanced formation of protein and nucleic acids (anabolic action) and of other constituents of lean body mass. By contrast its effects promote breakdown of carbohydrate and fat, with the energy released supporting growth. Because of the anabolic effects and because detection is difficult, growth hormone has been used by athletes to improve performance, although studies have shown it to be of little value.

— Mary L. Forsling

See also development and growth; hypothalamus; peptides; pituitary gland.

Food and Nutrition:
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Somatotrophin, a peptide hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that promotes growth of bone and soft tissues. It also reduces the utilization of glucose, and increases breakdown of fats to fatty acids; because of this it has been promoted as an aid to weight reduction, with little evidence of efficacy. Sometimes abbreviated to HGH (human growth hormone); growth hormone from other mammals differs in structure and activity. See also bovine somatotrophin.

Food and Fitness:
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Body growth is greatly influenced by a protein hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. This growth hormone (also known as human growth hormone, GH, or hGH) can now be manufactured by a genetic engineering technique called recombinant DNA technology. The growth hormone gene is cut out of human DNA and spliced into bacterial DNA. The bacteria are fermented and secrete growth hormone (sometimes called recombinant GH) identical to that produced in human cells. Growth hormone is used clinically to treat people with stunted growth. Until recombinant GH became available, the only source of growth hormone was human pituitary glands. This source is extremely expensive and was used almost exclusively for treating people of severely restricted growth (those with severe undersecretion of GH). Growth hormone from pituitary glands was also associated with a number of cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. The production of recombinant GH has meant treatment is safer and easier to obtain, so that those with less severe growth restriction can be treated. Unfortunately, its wider availability has been abused. It is used by body-builders and participants in power sports to accelerate muscle growth. Other sports people use it to accelerate the healing of musculoskeletal injuries. People concerned about their looks use it to decrease body fat. However, although growth hormone may increase the muscle bulk of inactive individuals, it probably has no significant effect on the muscle growth of young individuals who are engaged in an intense weight-training programme. Intense exercise combined with an adequate diet is sufficient to stimulate maximum protein synthesis in most individuals. In addition, excessive use of growth hormone may cause gigantism in prepubertal individuals and acromegaly (increase in size of the bones in hands, feet, and face) in adults. Other potential adverse effects include muscular weakness, arthritis, impotence, diabetes, and heart disorders. Use of growth hormone supplements is banned by the International Olympic Committee and some other sports federations, but it is very difficult to detect it.

Dental Dictionary:
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n

(GH) a single-chain peptide secreted by the anterior pituitary gland in response to growth hormone releasing factor (GHRF) from the hypothalamus. Growth hormone promotes protein synthesis in all cells, increased fat mobilization and use of fatty acids for energy, and decreased use of carbohydrates.

Nutrition Encyclopedia:
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Human growth hormone (HGH) stimulates the growth of bones and affects the metabolism of carbohydrate, protein, and fat. It is secreted by the pituitary gland, which is located in the brain. Whereas HGH is produced in the body, genetic engineering has resulted in the development of recombinant human growth hormone (rHGH), which is used to treat stunted growth in children. Bovine somatotropin (BST) is a naturally occurring protein hormone in cows that increases milk production when administered as a supplement. BST is not biologically active in humans and is broken down into inactive amino acids and peptides when consumed. Therefore, milk from cows treated with BST is believed to be as safe and nutritious as milk from untreated cows.

Supplemental HGH is used by athletes, particularly body builders and power lifters, to increase muscle mass and decrease body fat. Individuals who are HGH-deficient and take supplemental HGH will see an increase in muscle mass and decreased body fat, whereas those with normal HGH levels will see an increase in lean body mass from an increase in the size of heart, liver, and kidneys, and from fluid retention, but there will be no increase in muscle mass. Excessive use can cause acromegaly (an increase in the size of the bones of the hand, feet, and jaw), as well as muscle weakness, arthritis, impotence, and diabetes. Since HGH increases the size of the liver, kidneys, and heart, its use can predispose the individual to chronic diseases. HGH is classified as an anabolic hormone, and its ability to increase muscle and decrease fat confers an unfair athletic advantage on the user. The use of HGH is thus banned by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and many professional sporting organizations.

See also Ergogenic acids; Sports nutrition.

Bibliography
Rosenbloom, Christine, ed. (2000). Sports Nutrition: A Guide for the Professional Working with Active People, 3rd edition. Chicago: American Dietetic Association.
Williams, M. (1998). The Ergogenics Edge. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.


Columbia Encyclopedia:
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growth hormone or somatotropin (sōmăt'ətrō'pən), glycoprotein hormone released by the anterior pituitary gland that is necessary for normal skeletal growth in humans (see protein). Evidence suggests that the secretion of human growth hormone (HGH) is regulated by the release of certain peptides by the hypothalamus of the brain. One such substance, called somatostatin, has been shown to inhibit the secretion of HGH. HGH is known to act upon many aspects of cellular metabolism, but its most obvious effect is the stimulation of the growth of cartilage and bone in children.

See also auxins (plant growth hormones).

Role in Dwarfism and Gigantism

A deficiency of growth hormone secretion before puberty (by the end of which the synthesis of new bone tissue is complete) results in pituitary dwarfism. Pituitary dwarfs, who can be as little as 3 to 4 ft (91-122 cm) tall, are generally well proportioned except for the head, which may be relatively large when compared to the body (this relationship of head to body is similar to that of normal children). Unlike cretins, whose dwarfism is caused by a deficiency of thyroxine, pituitary dwarfs are not mentally retarded; they are often sexually immature. They can be treated by injections of synthetic growth hormone, either somatrem or somatropin, which are produced by genetically engineered bacteria.

An excess of growth hormone in children results in gigantism; these children grow to be over 7 ft (213 cm) in height and have disproportionately long limbs. Excess growth hormone produced after puberty has little effect on the growth of the skeleton, but it results in a disease affecting terminal skeletal structures known as acromegaly.

Other Medical Uses

HGH has been used with some success to combat the weight loss and general wasting characteristic of AIDS and cancer. It is used illegally by bodybuilders and athletes to increase muscle mass. Controversy surrounds its use in normal children who simply want to be taller. In addition, a 1990 medical study that reported the reversal of many of the physiological effects of aging with regular injections of HGH has created a lucrative black market for it and has prompted funding of further trials. There has been no conclusive evidence, however, to support the use of HGH as an anti-aging treatment, and it can cause serious side effects, including diabetes, in older adults.


Veterinary Dictionary:
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Growth hormone.

Wikipedia:
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"HGH" redirects here. For other uses, see HGH (disambiguation).
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Growth hormone 1
Somatotropine.GIF
Growth hormone
Identifiers
Symbol GH1
Entrez 2688
HUGO 4261
OMIM 139250
RefSeq NM_022562
UniProt P01241
Other data
Locus Chr. 17 q22-q24
Growth hormone 2
Identifiers
Symbol GH2
Entrez 2689
HUGO 4262
OMIM 139240
RefSeq NM_002059
UniProt P01242
Other data
Locus Chr. 17 q22-q24

Growth hormone (GH) is a protein-based peptide hormone. It stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior pituitary gland. Somatotropin refers to the growth hormone 1 produced naturally in animals, whereas the term somatropin refers to growth hormone produced by recombinant DNA technology,[1] and is abbreviated "HGH" in humans.

Growth hormone is used in medicine to treat children's growth disorders and adult growth hormone deficiency. In recent years, growth hormone replacement therapies have become popular in the battle against ageing and obesity. Reported effects on GH-deficient patients (but not on healthy people) include decreased body fat, increased muscle mass, increased bone density, increased energy levels, improved skin tone and texture, increased sexual function, and improved immune system function. At this time, hGH is still considered a very complex hormone, and many of its functions are still unknown.[2]

In its role as an anabolic agent, HGH has been used by competitors in sports since the 1970s, and it has been banned by the IOC and NCAA. Traditional urine analysis could not detect doping with HGH, so the ban was unenforceable until the early 2000s when blood tests that could distinguish between natural and artificial hGH were starting to be developed. Blood tests conducted by WADA at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece primarily targeted HGH.[2]
Contents [hide]

* 1 Gene locus
* 2 Structure
o 2.1 Regulation
o 2.2 Secretion patterns
* 3 Functions of GH
o 3.1 Excesses
o 3.2 Deficiencies
* 4 Therapeutic use
o 4.1 Treatments unrelated to deficiency
o 4.2 Anti-aging agent
o 4.3 Athletic enhancement
o 4.4 Side-effects
* 5 History
* 6 References
* 7 External links

Gene locus
Main articles: Growth hormone 1 and Growth hormone 2

Genes for human growth hormone, known as growth hormone 1 (somatotropin) and growth hormone 2, are localized in the q22-24 region of chromosome 17 and are closely related to human chorionic somatomammotropin (also known as placental lactogen) genes. GH, human chorionic somatomammotropin, and prolactin belong to a group of homologous hormones with growth-promoting and lactogenic activity.
Structure
Mind map showing a Summary of Growth Hormone Physiology

The major isoform of the human growth hormone is a protein of 191 amino acids and a molecular weight of 22,124 daltons. The structure includes four helices necessary for functional interaction with the GH receptor. It appears that, in structure, GH is evolutionarily homologous to prolactin and chorionic somatomammotropin. Despite marked structural similarities between growth hormone from different species, only human and primate growth hormones have significant effects in humans.

Several molecular isoforms of GH exist in the pituitary gland and are released to blood. In particular, a ~ 20 kDa variant originated by an alternative splicing is present in a rather constant 1:9 ratio,[3] while recently an additional variant of ~ 23-24 kDa has also been reported in post-exercise states at higher proportions.[4] This variant has not been identified, but it has been suggested to coincide with a 22 kDa glycosilated variant of 23 kDa identified in the pituitary gland.[5] Furthermore, these variants circulate partially bound to a protein (growth hormone-binding protein, GHBP), which is the truncated part of the growth hormone receptor, and an acid-labile subunit (ALS).
Regulation

Peptides released by neurosecretory nuclei of the hypothalamus (Growth hormone-releasing hormone/somatocrinin and Growth hormone-inhibiting hormone/somatostatin) into the hypophyseal portal venous blood surrounding the pituitary are the major controllers of GH secretion by the somatotropes. However, although the balance of these stimulating and inhibiting peptides determines GH release, this balance is affected by many physiological stimulators (e.g., exercise, nutrition, sleep) and inhibitors of GH secretion (e.g., Free fatty acids)[6] Stimulators of HGH secretion include:

* peptide hormones
o Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) through binding to the growth hormone-releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR)[7]
o ghrelin through binding to growth hormone secretagogue receptors (GHSR)[8]
* sex hormones[9]
o increased androgen secretion during puberty (in males from testis and in females from adrenal cortex)
o estrogen
* clonidine and L-DOPA by stimulating GHRH release[10]
* hypoglycemia, arginine[11] and propranolol by inhibiting somatostatin release[10]

* deep sleep[12]
* fasting[13]
* vigorous exercise [14]

Inhibitors of GH secretion include:

* somatostatin from the periventricular nucleus [15]
* circulating concentrations of GH and IGF-1 (negative feedback on the pituitary and hypothalamus)[2]
* hyperglycemia[10]
* glucocorticoids[16]
* dihydrotestosterone

In addition to control by endogenous and stimulus processes, a number of foreign compounds (xenobiotics such as drugs and endocrine disruptors) are known to influence GH secretion and function.[17]
Secretion patterns

HGH is synthesized and secreted from the anterior pituitary gland in a pulsatile manner throughout the day; surges of secretion occur at 3- to 5-hour intervals.[2] The plasma concentration of GH during these peaks may range from 5 to even 45 ng/mL.[18] The largest and most predictable of these GH peaks occurs about an hour after onset of sleep.[19] Otherwise there is wide variation between days and individuals. Nearly fifty percent of HGH secretion occurs during the third and fourth REM sleep stages.[20] Between the peaks, basal GH levels are low, usually less than 5 ng/mL for most of the day and night.[19] Additional analysis of the pulsatile profile of GH described in all cases less than 1 ng/ml for basal levels while maximum peaks were situated around 10-20 ng/mL.[21][22]

A number of factors are known to affect HGH secretion, such as age, gender, diet, exercise, stress, and other hormones.[2] Young adolescents secrete HGH at the rate of about 700 μg/day, while healthy adults secrete HGH at the rate of about 400 μg/day.[23]
Functions of GH
Main pathways in endocrine regulation of growth.

Effects of growth hormone on the tissues of the body can generally be described as anabolic (building up). Like most other protein hormones, GH acts by interacting with a specific receptor on the surface of cells.

Increased height during childhood is the most widely known effect of GH. Height appears to be stimulated by at least two mechanisms:

1. Because polypeptide hormones are not fat-soluble, they cannot penetrate sarcolemma. Thus, GH exerts some of its effects by binding to receptors on target cells, where it activates the MAPK/ERK pathway.[24] Through this mechanism GH directly stimulates division and multiplication of chondrocytes of cartilage.
2. GH also stimulates, through the JAK-STAT signaling pathway,[24] the production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1, formerly known as somatomedin C), a hormone homologous to proinsulin.[25] The liver is a major target organ of GH for this process and is the principal site of IGF-1 production. IGF-1 has growth-stimulating effects on a wide variety of tissues. Additional IGF-1 is generated within target tissues, making it what appears to be both an endocrine and an autocrine/paracrine hormone. IGF-1 also has stimulatory effects on osteoblast and chondrocyte activity to promote bone growth.

In addition to increasing height in children and adolescents, growth hormone has many other effects on the body:

* Increases calcium retention, and strengthens and increases the mineralization of bone
* Increases muscle mass through sarcomere hyperplasia
* Promotes lipolysis
* Increases protein synthesis
* Stimulates the growth of all internal organs excluding the brain
* Plays a role in fuel homeostasis
* Reduces liver uptake of glucose
* Promotes gluconeogenesis in the liver[26]
* Contributes to the maintenance and function of pancreatic islets
* Stimulates the immune system

Excesses

The most common disease of GH excess is a pituitary tumor composed of somatotroph cells of the anterior pituitary. These somatotroph adenomas are benign and grow slowly, gradually producing more and more GH. For years, the principal clinical problems are those of GH excess. Eventually, the adenoma may become large enough to cause headaches, impair vision by pressure on the optic nerves, or cause deficiency of other pituitary hormones by displacement.

Prolonged GH excess thickens the bones of the jaw, fingers and toes. Resulting heaviness of the jaw and increased size of digits is referred to as acromegaly. Accompanying problems can include sweating, pressure on nerves (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome), muscle weakness, excess sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), insulin resistance or even a rare form of type 2 diabetes, and reduced sexual function.

GH-secreting tumors are typically recognized in the fifth decade of life. It is extremely rare for such a tumor to occur in childhood, but, when it does, the excessive GH can cause excessive growth, traditionally referred to as pituitary gigantism.

Surgical removal is the usual treatment for GH-producing tumors. In some circumstances, focused radiation or a GH antagonist such as pegvisomant may be employed to shrink the tumor or block function. Other drugs like octreotide (somatostatin agonist) and bromocriptine (dopamine agonist) can be used to block GH secretion because both somatostatin and dopamine negatively inhibit GHRH-mediated GH release from the anterior pituitary.
Deficiencies
Main article: Growth hormone deficiency

The effects of growth hormone deficiency vary depending on the age at which they occur. In children, growth failure and short stature are the major manifestations of GH deficiency, with common causes including genetic conditions and congenital malformations. It can also cause delayed sexual maturity. In adults, deficiency is rare,[27] with the most common cause a pituitary adenoma, and others including a continuation of a childhood problem, other structural lesions or trauma, and very rarely idiopathic GHD.

Adults with GHD present with non-specific problems including truncal obesity with a relative decrease in muscle mass and, in many instances, decreased energy and quality of life.[27]

Diagnosis of GH deficiency involves a multiple-step diagnostic process, usually culminating in GH stimulation tests to see if the patient's pituitary gland will release a pulse of GH when provoked by various stimuli.

Treatment with exogenous GH is indicated only in limited circumstances,[27] and needs regular monitoring due to the frequency and severity of side-effects. GH is used as replacement therapy in adults with GH deficiency of either childhood-onset (after completing growth phase) or adult-onset (usually as a result of an acquired pituitary tumor). In these patients, benefits have variably included reduced fat mass, increased lean mass, increased bone density, improved lipid profile, reduced cardiovascular risk factors, and improved psychosocial well-being.
Therapeutic use
Main article: Growth hormone treatment
Treatments unrelated to deficiency

GH can be used to treat conditions that produce short stature but are not related to deficiencies in GH. However, results are not as dramatic when compared to short stature that is solely attributable to deficiency of GH. Examples of other causes of shortness often treated with GH are Turner syndrome, chronic renal failure, Prader–Willi syndrome, intrauterine growth retardation, and severe idiopathic short stature. Higher ("pharmacologic") doses are required to produce significant acceleration of growth in these conditions, producing blood levels well above normal ("physiologic"). Despite the higher doses, side-effects during treatment are rare, and vary little according to the condition being treated.

GH treatment improves muscle strength and slightly reduces body fat in Prader-Willi syndrome, which are significant concerns beyond the need to increase height. GH is also useful in maintaining muscle mass in wasting due to AIDS. GH can also be used in patients with short bowel syndrome to lessen the requirement for intravenous total parenteral nutrition.

GH can also be used for conditions that do not cause short stature. Typically, growth hormone treatment for conditions unrelated to stature is controversial and experimental. GH has been used for remission of multiple sclerosis, to reverse the effects of aging in older adults (see below), to enhance weight loss in obesity, as well as fibromyalgia, heart failure, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, burns and bodybuilding or athletic enhancement.
Anti-aging agent

Claims for GH as an anti-aging treatment date back to 1990 when the New England Journal of Medicine published a study wherein GH was used to treat 12 men over 60.[28] At the conclusion of the study, all the men showed statistically significant increases in lean body mass and bone mineral, while the control group did not. The authors of the study noted that these improvements were the opposite of the changes that would normally occur over a 10- to 20-year aging period. Despite the fact the authors at no time claimed that GH had reversed the aging process itself, their results were misinterpreted as indicating that GH is an effective anti-aging agent.[29][30][31] This has led to organizations such as the controversial American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine promoting the use of this hormone as an "anti-aging agent".[32]

A Stanford University School of Medicine survey of clinical studies on the subject published in early 2007 showed that the application of GH on healthy elderly patients increased muscle by about 2 kg and decreased body fat by the same amount.[29] However, these were the only positive effects from taking GH. No other critical factors were affected, such as bone density, cholesterol levels, lipid measurements, maximal oxygen consumption, or any other factor that would indicate increased fitness.[29] Researchers also did not discover any gain in muscle strength, which led them to believe that GH merely let the body store more water in the muscles rather than increase muscle growth. This would explain the increase in lean body mass.
Athletic enhancement
Main article: HGH treatment for athletic enhancement

Athletes in many sports use human growth hormone to enhance their athletic performance. Some recent studies have not been able to support claims that human growth hormone can improve the athletic performance of professional male athletes.[33][34]
Side-effects
Main article: HGH controversies

There is theoretical concern that HGH treatment may increase the risks of diabetes, especially in those with other predispositions treated with higher doses. If used for training, growth at a young age (25 or less) can cause severe symptoms. One survey of adults that had been treated with replacement cadaver GH (which has not been used anywhere in the world since 1985) during childhood showed a mildly increased incidence of colon cancer and prostate cancer, but linkage with the GH treatment was not established.[35]

Regular application of extra GH may show several negative side-effects such as joint swelling, joint pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and an increased risk of diabetes.[29] Other side effects can include less sleep needed after dosing. This is common initially and decreases in effect after habitual use of GH.
History
Main article: Growth hormone treatment#History

The identification, purification and later synthesis of growth hormone is associated with Choh Hao Li. Genentech pioneered the first use of recombinant human growth hormone for human therapy in 1981.

Prior to its production by recombinant DNA technology, growth hormone used to treat deficiencies was extracted from the pituitary glands of cadavers. Attempts to create a wholly synthetic HGH failed. Limited supplies of HGH resulted in the restriction of HGH therapy to the treatment of idiopathic short stature.[36] Furthermore, growth hormone from other primates was found to be inactive in humans.[37]

In 1985, unusual cases of Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease were found in individuals that had received cadaver-derived HGH ten to fifteen years previously. Based on the assumption that infectious prions causing the disease were transferred along with the cadaver-derived HGH, cadaver-derived HGH was removed from the market.[23]

In 1985, biosynthetic human growth hormone replaced pituitary-derived human growth hormone for therapeutic use in the U.S. and elsewhere.

As of 2005, recombinant growth hormones available in the United States (and their manufacturers) included Nutropin (Genentech), Humatrope (Lilly), Genotropin (Pfizer), Norditropin (Novo), and Saizen (Merck Serono). In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a version of rhGH called Omnitrope (Sandoz). A sustained-release form of growth hormone, Nutropin Depot (Genentech and Alkermes) was approved by the FDA in 1999, allowing for fewer injections (every 2 or 4 weeks instead of daily); however, the product was discontinued by Genentech/Alkermes in 2004 for financial reasons (Nutropin Depot required significantly more resources to produce than the rest of the Nutropin line[38]).
References

1. ^ Daniels ME (1992). "Lilly's Humatrope Experience". Nature Biotechnology 10: 812. doi:10.1038/nbt0792-812a.
2. ^ a b c d e Powers M (2005). "Performance-Enhancing Drugs". In Deidre Leaver-Dunn; Joel Houglum; Harrelson, Gary L.. Principles of Pharmacology for Athletic Trainers. Slack Incorporated. pp. 331–332. ISBN 1-55642-594-5.
3. ^ Leung KC, Howe C, Gui LY, Trout G, Veldhuis JD, Ho KK (October 2002). "Physiological and pharmacological regulation of 20-kDa growth hormone". Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab. 283 (4): E836–43. doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00122.2002. PMID 12217902.
4. ^ Kohler M, Püschel K, Sakharov D, Tonevitskiy A, Schänzer W, Thevis M (November 2008). "Detection of recombinant growth hormone in human plasma by a 2-D PAGE method". Electrophoresis 29 (22): 4495–502. doi:10.1002/elps.200800221. PMID 19003817.
5. ^ Bustamante JJ, Gonzalez L, Carroll CA, Weintraub ST, Aguilar RM, Muñoz J, Martinez AO, Haro LS (July 2009). "O-Glycosylated 24 kDa human growth hormone has a mucin-like biantennary disialylated tetrasaccharide attached at Thr-60". Proteomics 9 (13): 3474–88. doi:10.1002/pmic.200800989. PMID 19579232.
6. ^ Bartholomew, Edwin F.; Martini, Frederic; Judi Lindsley Nath (2009). Fundamentals of anatomy & physiology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education Inc. pp. 616–617. ISBN 0-321-53910-9.
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External links

* Magic Foundation, Support for adults and children affected with growth hormone deficiency.
* Central Precocious Puberty Treatment, SupprelinLA is a central precocious puberty treatment for children with growth hormone disorders.


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Mentioned in

* GRH
* GH (abbreviation)
* HGH
* GH-RH

* STH
* BGH (abbreviation)
* HGH (abbreviation)
* somatotropin, somatotrophin
* SRH
* GIH
* somatotroph
* somatropin
* hyposomatotropism
* gigantism (medicine)

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Related topics

* development and growth: birth and infancy
* hypothalamus
* peptides
* pituitary gland

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