Somatic growth

Fig. 6. Human development represents a continnnm with distinct facets associated with somatic growth, maturation of organs and organ systems, and psychosocial development. The net result is a physiologically mature human, capable of reprodnction. In the context of therapentics, it mnst be recognized that genetic constitntion, environment (including diet), concomitant disease state(s) and their treatment cnt across the continuum of development indifferential dimensions and as...

Development stages Diet Post-Fertih-zation time days/weeks Somatic wet weight (g) Mean somatic growth per development stage (% day ) Survival rate (%) E. cordatum Survival rate (%) P. Lividus )... 

Figure 51 Monthly somatic and generative growth increases in anchovy (g protein g1 per month) 1-5, age groups I-XII, months of the year. Open columns, somatic growth filled columns, generative growth.

Lipid accumulation differs from somatic growth, since food plankton increases in abundance from the Mediterranean, via the Black to the Azov Sea, a situation that promotes the greatest accumulation of lipids in Azov fish. 

Increase in airway size parallels somatic growth... 

The somatomedin hypothesis predicts that somatomedin G mediates the effects of GH on cartilage growth and possibly other aspects of general somatic growth. Somatomedin C is thought to act via the circulation, being produced in liver and possibly other tissues. 

The specific effects of GH on induction of somatomedin C (and its binding proteins) can be readily interpreted in terms of overall effects on somatic growth. The hormone also has effects on the production of other specific proteins, although here the connection with growth is less apparent. 

GH clearly has effects on carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, the protein-synthetic machinery, expression of specific proteins, and cell differentiation and proliferation. For a hormone concerned with the overall control of somatic growth such a wide spread of activities is potentially physiologically meaningful. It is at least possible that GH mediates these various actions via several different intracellular mechanisms and that it will not be possible to identify any one action as of key importance. 

Dexamethasone is widely used for the prevention and treatment of chronic lung disease in premature infants, in whom follow-up studies have raised the possibility of an association with alterations in neuromotor function and somatic growth. In 159 survivors (mean age 53 months) of a previous placebo-controlled study, the children who had received dexamethasone had a significantly higher incidence of cerebral palsy (39/80 versus 12/79 OR = 4.62 95% Cl = 2.38, 8.98) (36). The most common form of cerebral palsy was spastic diplegia. Developmental delay was more frequent in the dexamethasone group (44/80 versus 23/79 OR = 2.9 Cl = 1.5, 5.4). 

The major biological action of GH is to promote overall somatic growth. Deticiency in the secretion of this hormone can cause dwarfism, and an overproduction of this hormone can cause acromegaly and giantism. Secretion of this hormone is stimulated by growth hormone-releasing hormone (GH-RH). a 44-iesiduc polypeptide. secreted by the hypothalamus. Secretion of GH is inhibited by. somatostatin. 

Adolescence The period of hfe beginning with the appearance of secondary sex characteristics and terminating with the cessation of somatic growth. The years usually referred to as adolescence He between 13 and 18 years of age. [NIH]... 

Undesirable Effects Adrenal suppression (insufficiency upon withdrawal), Cushing s Syndrome (osteoporosis, skin atrophy, central fat distribution, abnormal glucose tolerance, behavioral abnormalities), suppression of somatic growth, osteopenia and bone fractures. 

Reproduction is the division of one cell to form two new cells. Qearly this occurs in normal somatic growth, bnt special significance is attached to the formation of new individuals by sexual or asexual means. 

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