Hartman M L, Veldhuis J D, Thorner M O
Department of Medicine, University of Virginia Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville 22908.
Horm Res. 1993;40(1-3):37-47. doi: 10.1159/000183766.
Growth hormone (GH) is secreted by the anterior pituitary gland in a pulsatile fashion under the regulation of two hypothalamic peptides: GH-releasing hormone (GHRH) stimulates GH synthesis and secretion while somatostatin inhibits GH release. Studies in rats, sheep and humans indicate that whereas GHRH is required for the initiation of GH pulses, the amplitude of GH pulses is modulated by somatostatin. In humans, these interactions result in a pattern of volleys of GH-secretory pulses with intervening periods of relative secretory quiescence. The amplitude and frequency of GH-secretory pulses are regulated by a complex array of external and internal stimuli including age, gender, menstrual cycle phase, pubertal status, nutrition, sleep, body composition and exercise. Changes in plasma concentrations of gonadal hormones, insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I likely mediate the effects of several of these factors. A greater understanding of the physiology of GH secretion will enable the development of future strategies to enhance GH secretion in GH-deficient states including the use of GH secretagogues and modification of nutrition and exercise habits.
生长激素（GH）由垂体前叶以脉冲方式分泌，受两种下丘脑肽的调节：生长激素释放激素（GHRH）刺激GH的合成与分泌，而生长抑素则抑制GH的释放。对大鼠、绵羊和人类的研究表明，虽然GHRH是启动GH脉冲所必需的，但GH脉冲的幅度受生长抑素调节。在人类中，这些相互作用导致了GH分泌脉冲群的模式，其间有相对分泌静止期。GH分泌脉冲的幅度和频率受一系列复杂的外部和内部刺激调节，包括年龄、性别、月经周期阶段、青春期状态、营养、睡眠、身体组成和运动。性腺激素、胰岛素和胰岛素样生长因子-I血浆浓度的变化可能介导了其中一些因素的作用。对GH分泌生理学的更深入了解将有助于制定未来策略，以增强GH缺乏状态下的GH分泌，包括使用GH促分泌剂以及改变营养和运动习惯。
