Two accelerators, one brake — how growth hormone release is controlled
🟢 GHRH (hypothalamus) → binds its receptor on the pituitary → cAMP rises → GH released
🟢 Ghrelin → binds GHS-R1a on the pituitary → a second route to GH release
🔴 Somatostatin → blocks GH release
The push and pull between these creates GH pulses, with the largest usually during deep sleep.
"Growth hormone secretagogues" copy the accelerators: GHRH analogues mimic GHRH, and GHRPs like ipamorelin mimic ghrelin.
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Sources:
• Sigalos JT, Pastuszak AW. "The Safety and Efficacy of Growth Hormone Secretagogues." Sexual Medicine Reviews, 2018.
• NCBI StatPearls — "Physiology, Growth Hormone"