Somatotropic hormone - Somatotropin, STH, growth hormone

Somatotropic hormone (STH) "nourishes the body" is a hormone that stimulates protein synthesis, increases the cell division process and also enhances the breakdown of fatty tissue.  In other words, the main function of the hormone is to stimulate the growth of the body. STH has a close relationship with insulin, facilitating the entry of important structural molecules - amino acids - into the cells.

The main biological effects of somatotropic hormone are exerted through insulin-like growth factor-1. IGF-1 also affects the amount of the hormone - an increase in IGF-1 decreases the concentration of somatotropic hormone and vice versa.

The release of STH into the blood takes place unevenly. In a 24-hour period, 5-9 significant releases of the hormone into the blood from the anterior pituitary gland occurs. The main release period is during a person's sleep, in particular during the fast phase of sleep, when a person is dreaming. Therefore, the statement that "man grows in his sleep" is pure truth.

Hormone levels in the blood are the most important regulators of the hormone, the so-called releasing factors of the hypothalamus, somatostatin and somatolibyrin, which stimulate and inhibit hormone production respectively.

The main purpose of the test is to diagnose conditions characterised by growth retardation (dwarfism) or acceleration (gigantism, acromegaly).