Structure
Human growth hormone is one of the most important hormones that are secreted by the body. The anterior pituitary gland is the source of the growth hormone in the body. The hormone has the capacity of stimulating protein formation in the body thus helping in tissue growth and development. This is directly proportional to the total growth and development of the body.
To know the structure of the human growth hormone is interesting as well as informative. The major component that comprises the growth hormones in humans is a protein that consists of 191 amino acids and has a molecular weight of 11,124 daltons. The main part of the structure contains four helices, which are indispensible for the various functional interactions that take place with the GH receptor.
It has been detected after lot of study and researches that the structure of the growth hormone has almost similar properties and compositions as chorionic somatomammotropin and prolactin. And the similarity in structure and composition hints clearly at the theory of evolution that is clearly seen even in the case of growth hormones in humans. Interestingly it has also been found that there are many structural and compositional similarities between the growth hormones of different kinds of species. However, among all the species, the growth hormones of humans and primates have noticeable effects on humans.
Plasma is the main circulating agent through which various hormones or their isoforms move in the body. Similar is the case with human growth hormones too. The various molecular isoforms of the growth hormone also circulate in the plasma. A percentage of the hormone while circulating in the plasma gets bound to a protein (growth hormone binding protein, GHBP). This protein is the mutilated part of the growth hormone receptor and an acid labile subunit (ALS).
Regulation
There are various peptides that are released by the neurosecretory nuclei of the hypothalamus. These peptides are released into the hypophyscal portal venous blood that surrounds the pituitary gland. They are also the major controllers of the growth hormone secretion by the somatotropes. The balance of secretion of these inhibiting and stimulating peptides determine the amount of the growth hormone release.
Apart from this, there are also other physiological stimulators that enhance the growth hormone release. Some of these stimulators are nutrition, exercise and sleep. There are also some stimulators that reduce the secretion of these hormones. Free fatty acids are the most common growth hormone inhibitors.
Some of the most common stimulators of human growth hormone secretion are as follows:
Vigorous physical exertion or exercise
Deep sleep
Sex Hormones
a) Oestrogen secretion
b) The increased secretion of androgen during puberty ( for females secretion from adrenal cortex and for males from testis)
Fasting
Clonidine and L-DOPA by stimulating the growth hormone releasing hormone release
Some of the most common human growth hormone inhibitors are as follows:
Glucocorticoids
Somatostatin from the periventricular nucleus
Dihydrotestosterone
Hyperglycemia
These are the natural ways of stimulating or inhibiting the growth hormones in humans. There are many foreign compounds that play an influential role in growth hormone function and secretion.
GenF20 Plus is one such medicine that can be used for the purpose effectively.
Author’s Bio:
A healthcare expert by profession and a blogger, Jaimin Patel has carved a niche for himself in the healthcare industry. He had penned several articles on health issues like human growth hormone, obesity, skin care etc. One of his interesting articles is about GenF20 Plus, a supplement of growth in humans.