Growth hormone physiologic effects

Alberts, A. C., Jackintell, L. A., and Phillips, J. A. (1994). Effects of chemical and visual exposure to adults on growth, hormones, and behavior of juvenile green iguanas. Physiology and Behavior 55,987-992. 

The growth hormone releasing hormone (or factor) (GHRH somatocrinin) was isolated only in 1982. It consists of either 40 or 44 amino acids. In addition to stimulating growth hormone production it also stimulates release of somatomedins, which are responsible for the many anabolic effects of growth hormone. Its production by recombinant DNA techniques has made it possible to undertake physiological studies on its activity. 

Anterior Lobe. The anterior pituitary, or adenohypophysis, secretes six important peptide hormones. The anterior pituitary releases growth hormone (GH), luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and prolactin (Pr). The physiologic effects of these hormones are listed in Table 28-1. 

MacKeown, B.A., Leatherland, J.F. and John, T.M. (1975). The effect of growth hormone and prolactin on the mobilisation of free fatty acids and glucose in the kokanee salmon, Oncorhynchus nerka. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology 50B, 425-430. 

The experimental results on BR behavior described above are summarized in Table I in comparison with those of IAA and GA. BR elicits physiological effects that are very similar to those of other plant hormones, in particular, auxin and GA. However, the behavior of BR is unique and different from those of the others. The facts that BR modifies plant growth by itself or in association with other hormones, that its effective concentration is very low (lOnM), that it has different modes of action, and that it occurs widely in the plant kingdom strongly indicate that BR is a new plant hormone which is probably essential for plant growth and development. 

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