(GH, somatotrophin) a hormone, synthesized and stored in the anterior pituitary gland, that promotes growth of the long bones in the limbs and increases protein synthesis (via *somatomedin). Its release is controlled by the opposing actions of growth-hormone releasing hormone and *somatostatin. Excessive production of growth hormone results in *gigantism before puberty and *acromegaly in adults. Lack of growth hormone in children causes *dwarfism. Synthetic human growth hormone (somatotropin) is used to treat a variety of conditions of growth-hormone deficiency. Pegvisomant is an analogue of human growth hormone that blocks GH receptors; it may be used to treat acromegaly.... growth hormone
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