Anterior Pituitary Hormones

Physiological functions of growth hormone Growth hormone promotes growth of many body tissues. GH,also called somatotropic hormone or somatotropin, it is a small protein molecule that contains 191 amino acids in a single chain, and has a molecular of 22,005. it promotes increased sizes of the cells and increased the mitosis, with development of greater numbers of cells and specific differentiation of certain types of cells such as bone growth cells and early muscle cells. Growth hormone promotes growth of many body tissues. GH,also called somatotropic hormone or somatotropin, it is a small protein molecule that contains 191 amino acids in a single chain, and has a molecular of 22,005. it promotes increased sizes of the cells and increased the mitosis, with development of greater numbers of cells and specific differentiation of certain types of cells such as bone growth cells and early muscle cells. growth hormone has several metabolic effects: growth hormone has several metabolic effects: 1- increased rate of protein synthesis in most cells of the body 2- increased mobilization of fatty acids from adipose tissue,increased free fatty acids in the blood,and increased use of fatty acids for energy. 3- decrease rate of glucose utilization throughout the body

Growth hormone promotes protein deposition in tissues: - enhancement of amino acid transport through the cell membranes. - enhancement of RNA translation to cause protein synthesis. - enhancement of RNA translation to cause protein synthesis. - increased nuclear transcription of DNA to form mRNA - increased nuclear transcription of DNA to form mRNA - decreased catabolism of protein and amino acids - decreased catabolism of protein and amino acids Growth hormone enhances fat utilization for energy : - enhances the release of fatty acids from adipose tissue, and therefore increasing the concentration of the fatty acids in the body fluids and tissues throughout the body. Growth hormone enhances fat utilization for energy : - enhances the release of fatty acids from adipose tissue, and therefore increasing the concentration of the fatty acids in the body fluids and tissues throughout the body. - enhances the conversion of fatty acids into acetyl coenzyme A - enhances the conversion of fatty acids into acetyl coenzyme A - under the influence of GH, fat is used for energy in preference to the use of carbohydrates and proteins. - under the influence of GH, fat is used for energy in preference to the use of carbohydrates and proteins. ‘ Ketogenic ‘ effect of growth hormone: ‘ Ketogenic ‘ effect of growth hormone: - increased GH concentration - increased GH concentration - increased fat mobilization from adipose tissues - increased fat mobilization from adipose tissues - increased formation of acetoacetic acid by the liver - increased formation of acetoacetic acid by the liver Growth hormone decreases carbohydrate utilization by : - decreases glucose uptake in tissues such as skeletal muscles and fats Growth hormone decreases carbohydrate utilization by : - decreases glucose uptake in tissues such as skeletal muscles and fats - increases glucose production by the liver - increases glucose production by the liver - inhibits gluconeogenesis by the liver - inhibits gluconeogenesis by the liver - increase insulin secretion - increase insulin secretion - GH has diabetogenic effect - GH has diabetogenic effect

-Necessity of insulin and carbohydrate for growth-promoting action of growth hormone

Growth Hormone Stimulates Cartilage and bone Growth Growth Hormone stimulate cartilage and bone growth through: 1- Increased deposition of protein by the chondrocytic and osteogenic cells that cause bone growth. 2- Increased rate of reproduction of these cells. 3- it converts chondrocytes into osteogenic cells. Mechanisms of bone growth: In response to growth hormone stimulation, the long bones grow in length at the epiphyseal cartilages, where the epiphyses at the ends of the bone are separated from the shaft. This growth first causes deposition of new cartilage.followed by its conversion into new bone, thus elongating the shaft and pushing the epiphyses farther and farther apart.

Growth hormone Exert Much of Its effect through intermediate substances called “Somatomedins also called “Insulin- like Growth Factors”). Growth hormone causes the liver to form several small proteins called somatomedins that have the potent effect of increasing all aspects of bone growth. Many of the somatomedins effects on growth are similar to the effect of insulin on growth, Therefore, the somatomedins called insulin- like growth factors 1 (IGFs). At least four somatomedins have been isolated, but the most important one called somatomedins C (IGF-1). Short duration of action of growth hormone, but prolonged action of somatomedin C. Growth hormone attaches only weakly to the plasma proteins in the blood.therefore, it is released from the blood into the tissue rapidly, having a half–time in the blood of less than 20 min. By contrast, somatmedin C attaches strongly to a carrier protein in the blood, somatomedin C is produced by the liver in response to growth hormone. As a result, somatomedin C is released only slowly from the blood to the tissues, with a half time of about 20 hours.

Regulation of Growth Hormone Secretion 1- starvation, especially with sever protein deficiency. 2- hypoglycemia or low concentration of fatty acid in the blood. 3- exercise 4- excitement 5- trauma. - growth hormone increases during the first 2hrs of deep sleep. - Normal concentration of growth hormone in the plasma of an adult is between 1.6 and 3ng/ml - In a child or adolescent, it is about 6ng/ml, these values often increase to as high as 50ng/ml after depletion of the body stores of proteins or carbohydrates during prolonged starvation..

- Under acute condition, hypoglycemia is a far more potent stimulator of growth hormone secretion than is an acute decrease in protein intake. Conversely, in chronic conditions, growth hormone secretion seems to correlate more with the degree of cellular protein depletion than with the degree of glucose insufficiency. Inhibit growth hormone secretion Stimulate growth hormone secretion Increase blood glucoseDecreased blood glucose Increased blood free fatty acidsDecreased blood free fatty acids AgingStarvation/ fasting /protein. Defic. ObesityTrauma/stress/ excitement & exercise GH Inhibitory (somatostatin)Testosterone, estrogen GH exogenousGH-releasing hormone Somatomedins(IGF1)Deep sleep

Role of the Hypothalamus, growth hormone-releasing hormone, and somatostatin in the control of growth hormone secretion The part of the hypothalamus that causes secretion of GHRH is the ventromedial nucleus, this is the same area of the hypothalamus that is sensitive to blood glucose concentration. The secretion of somatostatin is controlled by other nearby areas of the hypothalamus. The part of the hypothalamus that causes secretion of GHRH is the ventromedial nucleus, this is the same area of the hypothalamus that is sensitive to blood glucose concentration. The secretion of somatostatin is controlled by other nearby areas of the hypothalamus. Most of the control of growth hormone secretion is probably mediated through GHRH rather than through the GH inhibitory hormone (somatostatin). Most of the control of growth hormone secretion is probably mediated through GHRH rather than through the GH inhibitory hormone (somatostatin). Growth hormone secretion is subject to negative feedback control Growth hormone secretion is subject to negative feedback control

Abnormalities of Growth hormone Secretion Panhypopituitarism: Decreased secretion of all the anterior pituitary hormones. The decreased in secretion may be congenital, or it may occur suddenly or slowly at any time during life, most often resulting from a pituitary tumor that destroys the pituitary gland. Panhypopituitarism: Decreased secretion of all the anterior pituitary hormones. The decreased in secretion may be congenital, or it may occur suddenly or slowly at any time during life, most often resulting from a pituitary tumor that destroys the pituitary gland. Dwarfism: result from generalized deficiency of anterior pituitary secretion during childhood. Dwarfism: result from generalized deficiency of anterior pituitary secretion during childhood. A person with Panhypopituitarism dwarfism does not pass through puberty and never secretes sufficient quantities of gonadotropic hormones to develop adult sexual functions A person with Panhypopituitarism dwarfism does not pass through puberty and never secretes sufficient quantities of gonadotropic hormones to develop adult sexual functions Treatment with Human Growth Hormone: Growth hormone prepared from lower animals. Treatment with Human Growth Hormone: Growth hormone prepared from lower animals.

The General effects of adult Panhypopituitarism are : The General effects of adult Panhypopituitarism are : 1- hypothyroidism. 1- hypothyroidism. 2- depressed production of glucocorticoids by the adrenal glands 2- depressed production of glucocorticoids by the adrenal glands 3- suppressed secretion of the gonadotropic hormones, so sexual functions are lost 3- suppressed secretion of the gonadotropic hormones, so sexual functions are lost Gigantism: Gigantism: Acromegaly: Acromegaly: Possible roles of decreased growth hormone secretion in causing changes associated with aging: (1) decreased protein deposition in the body, especially in the muscles (2) increased fat deposits