Endocrinology: Endocrine Control of Growth Flashcards
Define growth
Growth = the organised addition of new tissue that occurs normally in development.
Except for longitudinal growth, many of the processes involved continue to operate throughout life (e.g., tissue remodelling)
Factors that influence growth
- Genetics
- Nutrition
- Growth influencing hormones – growth hormone, thyroid hormone, somatomedins/IGFs, insulin, sex hormones
- Chronic stress and disease
What is growth hormone also known as?
Growth hormone, aka somatotropin; somatotropic hormone
Where is growth hormone produced? What type of hormone is it?
Polypeptide hormone produced in somatotrophs of anterior pituitary
How is secretion of growth hormone regualted?
Secretion regulated by GHRH and GHIH (somatostatin)
growth hormone releasing hormone and growth hormone inhibiting hormone
Growth hormone mechanisms of action
- Transported bound to growth hormone binding protein
- Targets many tissues where it influences fuel metabolism
- GH binding to enzyme-linked receptor produces activation of kinase cascade which ultimately alters gene transcription
- Overall effect is to use up fat stores and promote protein synthesis
Growth hormone secretion pattern
- Irregular pulses
- Largest bursts during deep sleep
- Pulse amplitude maximum at puberty, then declines
What is secretion of growth hormone stimulated by?
- GH-releasing hormone (GHRH)
- Oestrogens and androgens
- Decreased blood glucose
- Decreased blood fatty acids
- Exercise
- Excitement/ stress/ trauma
- Sleep
- Increase in amino acids
What is secretion of growth hormone inhibited by?
- GH-inhibiting hormone (GHIH; somatostatin)
- Somatomedins (-ve feedback)
- Obesity
- Increased blood glucose
- Increased blood fatty acids
- aging
Hypothalamus role in growth hormone secretion
Hypothalamus
- Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (GHIH) are produced
- GHRH stimulates release of growth hormone from the pituitary gland, somatostatin inhibits it
Pituitary gland and growth growth hormone
Synthesises and stores growth hormone
What happens once growth hormone is secreted?
Negative feedback
- Once growth hormone is secreted into the bloodstream, it exerts is effects on target tissues (liver, adipose tissue, skeletal muscle)
- It promotes growth, metabolism and other physiological processes
- Regulates its own secretion: high levels of GH in blood inhibits release of GHRH, stimulates release of somatostatin, and vice versa
What are somatomedins?
Somatomedins (insulin-like growth factors = IGF)
Peptide hormones that have strong mitogenic properties (encourage cell division)
Where are IGFs produced?
Insulin-like growth factors
IGFs are produced primarily in the liver, but also in most other tissues (where it has an autocrine/ paracrine effect)
Types of IGF
Insulin-like growth factors
There are two types (IGF-1, IGF-2)
IGF-1 effects most cells in the body where it stimulates cell growth, multiplication and inhibits apoptosis (programmed cell death)
IGF-2 is a growth promoting hormone during gestation