Growth hormone (GH); also known as somatotropin; is a member of a family of growth factors. It plays an important role in growth control. Its major role in stimulating body growth is to stimulate the liver and other tissues to secrete IGF-1. GH includes prolactin; placental lactogens; proliferins; and somatolactin. It is synthesized primarily by somatotropes in the anterior pituitary and is stored in secretory granules. It stimulates both the differentiation and proliferation of myoblasts. It also stimulates amino acid uptake and protein synthesis in muscle and other tissues.
