Underwood L E, D'Ercole A J, Clemmons D R, Van Wyk J J
Clin Endocrinol Metab. 1986 Feb;15(1):59-77. doi: 10.1016/s0300-595x(86)80042-1.
Evidence is growing that the somatomedins act by a paracrine and/or autocrine mechanism. The importance of these mechanisms relative to the traditional endocrine actions is not clear, and it is possible that these growth factors act through all three mechanisms. Supporting the possible paracrine/autocrine mechanisms are reports that production of somatomedins or somatomedin-like peptides is widespread throughout the body. Additionally, the somatomedins have biological actions on remarkably diverse cell types, and these responsive cells are found in close proximity to cells known to produce somatomedin. Finally, factors that alter the growth rate of cultured cells produce parallel changes in somatomedin secretion, suggesting that these phenomena are closely linked.
越来越多的证据表明，生长调节素通过旁分泌和/或自分泌机制发挥作用。这些机制相对于传统内分泌作用的重要性尚不清楚，并且这些生长因子有可能通过所有三种机制发挥作用。支持可能的旁分泌/自分泌机制的是一些报告，这些报告指出生长调节素或类生长调节素肽在全身广泛产生。此外，生长调节素对多种不同类型的细胞具有生物学作用，并且这些反应性细胞与已知产生生长调节素的细胞紧密相邻。最后，改变培养细胞生长速率的因素会使生长调节素分泌产生平行变化，这表明这些现象密切相关。
