What is growth hormone?
Human growth hormone (HGH) is produced in the pituitary gland of humans, and the hormone is secreted throughout a person’s lifetime. It promotes growth in children and plays an important role in adult metabolism. It was first isolated in 1956 and its structure was identified in 1972. Until the mid-1980’s the only source of HGH was from pituitary glands collected post mortem. Today HGH is available in larger quantities through the technique of genetic engineering and, consequently, a number of conditions apart from the classical growth hormone insufficiency can be treated. Growth hormone insufficiency is a condition caused by a deficiency of natural growth hormone. Without treatment, Eg boys typically reach a height of 130 cm at the age of 18, compared with a normal height of 162 cm. If treatment with growth hormone is initiated at an early stage, a final height close to normal can be obtained. Turner’s Syndrome is a genetic defect associated with short stature.
Hormones are chemical messengers that are produced in one part of the body and travel through the bloodstream to other parts of the body, where they deliver a message to cause some kind of change in the body. Growth hormone is a hormone that is produced by the pituitary (pi-TOO-i-tair-ee) gland, a pea-sized gland located just under the brain and behind the bridge of the nose. When the pituitary gland receives a message from the brain, it sends growth hormone via the bloodstream to the bones and other parts of the body, where it causes cell growth and division. The action of growth hormone in the bones, and especially in the spine and long bones of the legs, causes children to grow taller.
