Somatotrope
Encyclopedia
Somatotropes are cells in the anterior pituitary
that produce growth hormone
.
(GH) in response to Growth hormone releasing hormone
(GHRH, or somatocrinin) or are inhibited by GHIH (somatostatin), both received from the hypothalamus
via the hypophyseal portal system
vein and the secondary plexus. Somatotrope cells are classified as acidophilic
cells. These cells take years to grow and mature very slowly. If these cells grow large enough they can impair vision, cause headaches or damage other pituitary functions.
Protropin can be given to children who have diseases, or naturally occurring problems that limit the amount of hormone being produced. Examples of these diseases are human growth hormone deficiency, kidney’s disease, Turner’s syndrome or Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). It is also possible to be used in adults who are coping with weight loss from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Protropin is illegal when used for athletic purposes.
Deficiency in somatotrope secretion before puberty, or before the end of new bone tissue growth, can lead to pituitary dwarfism
. When growth hormone is deficient, blood sugar
is low because insulin is not opposed by normal amount of growth hormone. Dwarfs are usually well proportioned, but sometimes have a large head compared to the body. Treatment includes injections of somatotrope.
include heavy sweating, oily skin, improper processing of sugars in the diet (diabetes), high blood pressure, increased calcium in urine and swelling of the thyroid gland and arthritis
.
occurs in the pituitary of cattle and differs in structure from human pituitary growth hormone and is biologically inactive in the human being. Bovine somatotropin aids in regulating the amount of milk produced. Recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) is a hormone that is injected in cows that increases milk production.
Anterior pituitary
A major organ of the endocrine system, the anterior pituitary, also called the adenohypophysis, is the glandular, anterior lobe of the pituitary gland...
that produce growth hormone
Growth hormone
Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...
.
Description
Somatotropic cells constitute 30-40% of anterior pituitary cells. They release growth hormoneGrowth hormone
Growth hormone is a peptide hormone that stimulates growth, cell reproduction and regeneration in humans and other animals. Growth hormone is a 191-amino acid, single-chain polypeptide that is synthesized, stored, and secreted by the somatotroph cells within the lateral wings of the anterior...
(GH) in response to Growth hormone releasing hormone
Growth hormone releasing hormone
Growth-hormone-releasing hormone , also known as growth-hormone-releasing factor , somatoliberin or somatocrinin, is a releasing hormone for growth hormone...
(GHRH, or somatocrinin) or are inhibited by GHIH (somatostatin), both received from the hypothalamus
Hypothalamus
The Hypothalamus is a portion of the brain that contains a number of small nuclei with a variety of functions...
via the hypophyseal portal system
Hypophyseal portal system
The hypophyseal portal system is the system of blood vessels that link the hypothalamus and the anterior pituitary in the brain.It allows endocrine communication between the two structures. It is part of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The anterior pituitary receives releasing and...
vein and the secondary plexus. Somatotrope cells are classified as acidophilic
Acidophile
Acidophile may refer to:* Acidophile * Acidophile...
cells. These cells take years to grow and mature very slowly. If these cells grow large enough they can impair vision, cause headaches or damage other pituitary functions.
Hormone deficiency
When levels of somatotropin are low in the body it is possible to take a supplement known as Protropin. Protropin (somatrem for injection) is a polypeptide hormone produced by recombinant DNA technology. Protropin has 192 amino acid residues and a molecular weight of about 22,000 daltons. The product contains the identical sequence of 191 amino acids constituting pituitary-derived human growth hormone plus an additional amino acid, methionine, on the N-terminus of the molecule. Protropin is synthesized in a special laboratory strain of E. coli bacteria which has been modified by the addition of the gene for human growth hormone production.Protropin can be given to children who have diseases, or naturally occurring problems that limit the amount of hormone being produced. Examples of these diseases are human growth hormone deficiency, kidney’s disease, Turner’s syndrome or Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). It is also possible to be used in adults who are coping with weight loss from acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Protropin is illegal when used for athletic purposes.
Deficiency in somatotrope secretion before puberty, or before the end of new bone tissue growth, can lead to pituitary dwarfism
Growth hormone deficiency
Growth hormone deficiency is a medical condition in which the body does not produce enough growth hormone . Growth hormone, also called somatotropin, is a polypeptide hormone which stimulates growth and cell reproduction...
. When growth hormone is deficient, blood sugar
Blood sugar
The blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose present in the blood of a human or animal. Normally in mammals, the body maintains the blood glucose level at a reference range between about 3.6 and 5.8 mM , or 64.8 and 104.4 mg/dL...
is low because insulin is not opposed by normal amount of growth hormone. Dwarfs are usually well proportioned, but sometimes have a large head compared to the body. Treatment includes injections of somatotrope.
Hormone excess
If there is an excess of growth hormone it is usually because of over-secretion of somatotrope cells in the anterior pituitary gland. A significant amount of excess somatotrope secretion before puberty, or before the end of new bone tissue growth, can lead to gigantism. Gigantism is a disease that causes excess growth of body (eg. being over 7 ft. tall) and unusually long limbs. An excess of secretion of growth hormone after puberty can lead to acromegaly. This is a disease that causes abnormal growth in the hands, head, jaw, and tongue. Some symptoms associated with acromegalyAcromegaly
Acromegaly is a syndrome that results when the anterior pituitary gland produces excess growth hormone after epiphyseal plate closure at puberty...
include heavy sweating, oily skin, improper processing of sugars in the diet (diabetes), high blood pressure, increased calcium in urine and swelling of the thyroid gland and arthritis
Arthritis
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that involves inflammation of one or more joints....
.
Bovine
Bovine somatotropinBovine somatotropin
Bovine somatotropin , or BGH, is a chain of amino acids produced by the cow's pituitary gland. Like other hormones, it is produced in small quantities and is used in regulating metabolic processes...
occurs in the pituitary of cattle and differs in structure from human pituitary growth hormone and is biologically inactive in the human being. Bovine somatotropin aids in regulating the amount of milk produced. Recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST) is a hormone that is injected in cows that increases milk production.