| What is Human Growth Hormone (HGH) |
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A hormone is basically a chemical messenger that carries a signal from one cell to another. Hormones are produced by both plants and animals and play an important role in the metabolism of both classes. The human growth hormone (HGH), also called as somatotropic hormone or somatotropin, is produced by the anterior pituitary gland. This gland is located in a bony cavity at the base of the brain called sella turcica. The pituitary is called the master gland of the human body as it controls the regulation of all functions by virtue of the hormones elaborated by it. The human growth hormone is an endocrine hormone. This means that the molecules secreted by the hormone are released directly into the bloodstream. The growth hormone in humans is a protein molecule that contains 191 amino acids in a single chain and has a molecular weight of 22,005. There are considerable similarities between the growth hormone produced by humans and other species, but it is only human hormone and primate growth hormone that exert significant effects in the human body. The structure of growth hormone is similar in may respects to two other hormones elaborated in the human body. These are prolactin and human chorionic somatomammotropin. The genes for human growth hormone are also located in close relationship with these hormones on chromosome 17. As the term indicated human growth hormone is responsible for all growth in the human body. Again the level of the hormone is at its peak during growth in childhood and adolescence and declines gradually after puberty. This process of a decline in the levels of growth hormone as a person approaches the age of 30 is called as "Somatopause" and is similar in many ways to menopause although it is not so abrupt as the latter condition. Human growth hormone is present in high levels from fetal life itself. According to a study published in the Journal of endocrinology by Kenth G, Mergelas J and Goodyer C, the HGH receptors are present in high numbers in the developing fetus. As the infant grows and then approaches teenage, there are two growth spurts when the levels of the hormone are again high. These growth spurts occurs at ages 10 or 11 and peak by age 12. Girls usually stop growing by the ages of 15 or 16 years after they attain menarche. In boys, the growth spurt begins at 12 or 13, reaches a peak by age 14. By the time they are 19 years boy stop growing for all intents and purposes. During growth spurts the human growth hormone is one busy messenger regulating all tissues and determining how much growth occurs. Typically the levels of the growth hormone stabilize by the age of 20 and then gradually decline by age 30. |