Growth hormone (GH), also known as somatotropin, is a member of a family of growth factors that includes prolactin, placental lactogens, proliferins, and somatolactin. It is synthesized primarily by somatotropes in the anterior pituitary and is stored in secretary granules. The pulsatile release of GH into circulation is regulated by the concerted actions of the hypothalamic hormones-GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) and somatostatin (SST) - as well as by signals from the periphery - ghrelin and leptin. The human GH cDNA encodes a 217 amino acid (aa) residue precursor protein with a 26 aa putative signal peptide. By alternative splicing, at least four isoforms of GH have been identified.
