Normal Growth and Clinical Aspects Flashcards
What are examples of some things that regulate growth?
Growth hormone release from anterior pituitary (which in turn is regulated by the balance of GHH vs GHIH from hypothalamus)
Thyroid hormones
Insulin
Sex steroids (especially at puberty)
Availability of nutrients
Stress
Genetics
What is the classification of growth hormone?
Peptide hormone
What is growth hormone (GH) also called?
Somatotropin
What is growth hormone released from?
Anterior pituitary
Growth hormone release is controlled via the release of two hypothalamic neurohormones with opposing actions, what are these?
Growth hormone inhibiting hormone (GHIH)
Growth hormone releasing hormone (GHRH)
What is growth hormone inhibiting hormone also called?
Somatostatin
What are the 2 broad categories that the actions of GH can be defined into?
Growth and development (indirect action)
Regulation of metabolism (direct action)
What is the indirect action of GH?
Growth and development
What is the direct action of GH?
Increases gluconeogenesis
Inhibits insulin activity - ensuring more [BG] is available for bones
Makes adipocytes more sensitive to lipolytic stimuli
Increases amino acid uptake & protein synthesis
When does the main driver of growth change from nutritional intake to GH?
Growth in foetal period and first 8-10 months is largely controlled by nutritional intake
After this GH becomes dominant influence on rate at which children grow
GH requires the permissive action of what before it will stimulate growth?
Thyroid hormones and insulin
Why do children with untreated hypothyroidism oruncontrolled diabetes have stunted growth?
Because the permissive actions of thyroid hormones and insulin is required before GH will stimulate growth
Why do GH secretions continue throughout adult life even once a child has grown to their full height?
It is essential in the maintenance and repair of tissue
What do the growth promoting effects of GH stimulate on its target tissues?
Stimulate both cell size (hypertrophy) and cell division (hyperplasia)
How is the effect of GH on growth indirect?
Achieved through its action of an intermediate (insulin like growth factor-1, or IGF-1)
What does IGF-1 stand for?
Insulin like growth factor 1
What is insulin like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) also called?
Somatomedian C
Why is IGF-1 named as it is?
Similar structure to proinsulin, binds to receptors similar to insulin receptor and has hypoglycaemic qualities
Where are IGF-1 receptors found?
Muscle has many
Fat and liver have few
What is IGF-1 secreted by and in response to?
By the liver in response to GH release
How does IGF-1 control GH release?
Through a negative feedback loop
As well as IGF-1, IGF-2 exists. What is its functional importance?
Limited to the foetus and neonate
How are GH and IGF-1 transported around the blood?
Although they are peptide hormones, they are transported in the blood bound to carrier proteins (50% of GH is in this form)
What percentage of GH in the blood is bound to carrier proteins?
50%