GROWTH HORMONE (GH)
It is a peptide hormone with 191 amino acids and a molecular weight of 22kd.
FUNCTIONS -
It is a stomatotrophic hormone that promotes the growth of many body tissues as well as bones and cartilages. It stimulates the secretion of somatomedins which increase the cell division and the growth of cartilages and bones.It promotes the groeth of many non skeletal body tissues by increasing the the cell size and number so that the tissues enlarge and hence the organ as whole enlarges.The soft tissues of the body grow under the control of the GH.
In addition to increasing height in children and adolescents, growth hormone has many other effects on the body:
TESTINGSomatotropin test
This test is conducted to find human growth hormone deficiency as well as excess. For accurate readings blood sample is taken after one hour of good sleep. The normal results of tests are
For men- 5 ng/ml
For women less than 10ng/ml
For children- 10 ng/ml
In new born babies -10-40 ng/ml
Somatomedin C test
To indicate the accurate human growth hormone level in blood, this test is conducted. Somatomedin or insulin is good indicator of human growth level in blood. Following are the normal results for the Somatomedin C test
For adult - 42-110 ng/ml
For girls -
- For age group 0-8 7-110 ng/ml
- For age group 9-10 39-186 ng/ml
- For age group 11-13 66-215 ng/ml
For boys -
- For age group 0-8 4-87 ng/ml
- For age group 9-10 26-98 ng/ml
- For age group 11-13 44-207 ng/ml
If actual readings exceed the normal results, then it is indication of gigantism and acromegaly-[9]
Hyposecretion :- This genrally occurs due to the damage to the somatotropes of the pituitary . If this is so then not only the somatotropes but other cells of the pituitary are also damaged. The condition is called as 'Pan hypo-pituitarism'.
Symptoms in children:-
1.Dwarfism- The dwarfs or midgets are not more than 3-4 feet tall and are sexually immature.
2.Simmonds disease- There is degeneration of sex organs, early sterility, dry and wrinkled skin .
Symptoms in adults:-
1.Progeria- Accelerated aging
2. Lethargy, obesity and loss of sexual functions.
Treatment- If there is only growth hormone defeciency then external administration is beneficial, for other disorders other hormone therapies are necessary.
Hypersecretion:- This generally occurs due to acidophilic tumors of the anterior pituitary .
Symptoms in children-
Gigantism-They generally grow to 7-8 feet tall because the epiphyseal plates are not completely fused, bones freely increase both in lenght as well as in thickness.
Symptoms in adults-
Acromegly- In which there is elongation of bones ,enlarged jaws and lenghtening of forelimbs and handlimbs.Gorilla like appearance. [B1] [10]
FUNCTIONS -
It is a stomatotrophic hormone that promotes the growth of many body tissues as well as bones and cartilages. It stimulates the secretion of somatomedins which increase the cell division and the growth of cartilages and bones.It promotes the groeth of many non skeletal body tissues by increasing the the cell size and number so that the tissues enlarge and hence the organ as whole enlarges.The soft tissues of the body grow under the control of the GH.
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 homeostasis
- Reduces liver uptake of glucose
- Promotes gluconeogenesis in the liver
- Contributes to the maintenance and function of pancreatic islets
- Stimulates the immune system [8]
TESTINGSomatotropin test
This test is conducted to find human growth hormone deficiency as well as excess. For accurate readings blood sample is taken after one hour of good sleep. The normal results of tests are
For men- 5 ng/ml
For women less than 10ng/ml
For children- 10 ng/ml
In new born babies -10-40 ng/ml
Somatomedin C test
To indicate the accurate human growth hormone level in blood, this test is conducted. Somatomedin or insulin is good indicator of human growth level in blood. Following are the normal results for the Somatomedin C test
For adult - 42-110 ng/ml
For girls -
- For age group 0-8 7-110 ng/ml
- For age group 9-10 39-186 ng/ml
- For age group 11-13 66-215 ng/ml
For boys -
- For age group 0-8 4-87 ng/ml
- For age group 9-10 26-98 ng/ml
- For age group 11-13 44-207 ng/ml
If actual readings exceed the normal results, then it is indication of gigantism and acromegaly-[9]
Hyposecretion :- This genrally occurs due to the damage to the somatotropes of the pituitary . If this is so then not only the somatotropes but other cells of the pituitary are also damaged. The condition is called as 'Pan hypo-pituitarism'.
Symptoms in children:-
1.Dwarfism- The dwarfs or midgets are not more than 3-4 feet tall and are sexually immature.
2.Simmonds disease- There is degeneration of sex organs, early sterility, dry and wrinkled skin .
Symptoms in adults:-
1.Progeria- Accelerated aging
2. Lethargy, obesity and loss of sexual functions.
Treatment- If there is only growth hormone defeciency then external administration is beneficial, for other disorders other hormone therapies are necessary.
Hypersecretion:- This generally occurs due to acidophilic tumors of the anterior pituitary .
Symptoms in children-
Gigantism-They generally grow to 7-8 feet tall because the epiphyseal plates are not completely fused, bones freely increase both in lenght as well as in thickness.
Symptoms in adults-
Acromegly- In which there is elongation of bones ,enlarged jaws and lenghtening of forelimbs and handlimbs.Gorilla like appearance. [B1] [10]