Where is somatotropin developed?

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Somatotropin is a growth hormone that is produced naturally in humans and animals. Its function is to stimulate growth, cell reproduction and cell regeneration. Somatotropin consists of a 191 amino acid single chain polypeptide hormone. It is produced in the anterior pituitary gland by somatotroph cells. Growth hormone has a strong effect on growth and metabolism. It is used commercially to promote growth in humans and to augment metabolism in animals. An example, is in increasing milk production in cows.

There are two kinds of effects that growth hormone has on the human or animal in which it is produced. These are direct effects and indirect effects. Direct effects are those that occur when the hormone binds to receptors of target cells. For example, fat cells possess receptors for growth hormone. When growth hormone binds to them, these fat cells are stimulated to break down triglycerides, resulting in less fat. It seems paradoxical that growth hormone results in getting thinner. But this is due to the increase in the rate of metabolism of fats. The indirect effect of growth hormone is growth. It is considered indirect because the hormone acts on the liver which then secretes the hormone IGF-I (insulin-like growth factor I). This hormone then promotes growth by acting on target cells.

The process of growth actually involves a number of hormones acting together. Growth hormone’s main function in causing growth is that of stimulating the liver to secrete IGF-I which then encourages the production of cartilage cells. Growth hormone also causes the differentiation of the cartilage cells. This results in bone growth and increased height. IGF-I also stimulates muscle growth by encouraging the proliferation and differentiation of myoblasts, in addition to increasing protein synthesis and amino acid uptake in muscles and other tissues.

As mentioned, growth hormone increases the metabolism of fats and proteins. It also increases the metabolism of carbohydrates by inhibiting the effects of insulin. Insulin is no longer able to encourage the uptake of glucose in tissues and stimulate the synthesis of glucose in the liver.

Growth hormone production is influenced by exercise, growth hormone itself, nutrition, stress and sleep. The rapid growth of babies during their first year is partly due to the fact that they sleep so much. This results in the secretion of more growth hormone. Deep sleep in particular is the trigger for growth hormone release.

Regarding the control of growth hormone, three other hormones have strong effects on its production. Growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) is produced by the hypothalamus. Its job is to stimulate the production and secretion of growth hormone. Somatistatin, produced by the hypothalamus as well as other body tissues, represses the release of growth hormone, depending on the signals it receives from GHRH and low glucose in the blood. The third hormone is ghrelin, which is secreted from the stomach organ. It encourages the secretion of growth hormone by binding to receptors on the somatotrophs in the anterior pituitary gland.

A deficit of growth hormone, or a deficiency in the response of target cells to growth hormone, results in the retardation of growth or dwarfism. The effects of too much growth hormone depend on whether increased secretion took place. If too much growth hormone is secreted when the individual is of a young age, due to a rare tumor of the somatotrophs, gigantism results. The result is that the person has normal proportions but is extremely tall. (The largest recorded height is 8 feet, 11 inches.) If too much growth hormone is secreted by adults, due to a benign pituitary tumor, hands and feet are larger than normal, the jaw becomes more prominent and there is soft tissue swelling.

Resource by Will

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