Somatotrophs

Somatotropic cells make up 50% of all cells of the adenohypophysis. Somatotrophs are localized mainly in the lateral parts of the pituitary gland. They have a round or oval shape, the core is located in the center, surrounded by cisterns of the endoplasmic reticulum. The cytoplasm of cells contains acidophilic small hormonal granules (300-600 nm in size), giving the cells an orange color. Growth hormone cells produce growth hormone ( somatotropin ) in response to the effects of the releasing hormone hypothalamus somatoliberin . The production of growth hormone is inhibited by the hormone hypothalamus somatostatin. Both regulatory substances enter the somatotropic cells from the hypothalamus through the pituitary portal veins and the secondary capillary plexus.

The lack of production of growth hormone in the period before puberty or until the end of the growth of new bone tissue can lead to pituitary dwarfism ( dwarfism ). Growth hormone is an antagonist of insulin by the effect on carbohydrate metabolism , therefore, with a lack of growth hormone, blood sugar levels decrease. If the body's somatotropin concentration is too low, the doctor may prescribe human growth hormone as a medicine.

An excess of growth hormone is usually caused by growth hormone being too active by somatotropic cells. A significant excess of somatotropin in the period before puberty or until the end of growth of new bone tissue can lead to gigantism , a disease that leads to excessive body growth (for example, about 2.13 m of growth) and anomalous length of the limbs. Excess growth hormone in post-puberty can lead to acromegaly . It is a disease that causes excessive growth of the arms, skull, jaws and tongue. Some of the symptoms of acromegaly are excessive sweating, oily skin, improper absorption of food-derived sugars ( diabetes ), high blood pressure, increased urinary calcium, swelling of the thyroid gland and arthritis .

Bovine growth hormone is produced in the pituitary gland of cattle and differs from human growth hormone in structure and is biologically inactive in the human body. Bovine somatotropin helps regulate the amount of milk produced. Recombinant bovine somatotropin is a hormone administered to cows to increase milk production.

1. Jump up ^ Costanzo Physiology 5th edition
2. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatotropic_cell
3. Balabolkin MI, 1998. Endocrinology. Pp. 76
4. Electronic Atlas. Topic 22 Endocrine system