Final answer:
Growth Hormone (GH) and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) work synergistically to stimulate body growth and enhance protein synthesis in tissues, with GH having a direct effect and IGF-1 promoting growth indirectly. They play a key role in the uptake of amino acids for protein production, especially in muscle and bone tissues. Their activity is regulated by hormones from the hypothalamus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Growth Hormone (GH) and Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) work together to stimulate growth in the body. GH, produced by the anterior pituitary gland, accelerates protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and bones directly, while IGF-1, primarily produced in the liver, further enhances this effect indirectly. GH stimulates the liver and other tissues to produce IGFs, which in turn promote cellular proliferation and prevent programmed cell death.
This synergy is particularly crucial after meals, when blood levels of glucose and amino acids are elevated. The regulation of GH itself is closely managed by Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone (GHRH) and Growth Hormone-Inhibiting Hormone (GHIH), also known as somatostatin, both produced by the hypothalamus. These processes underscore the importance of hormonal regulation in the human body, specifically how hormones such as GH and IGF-1 interact to influence growth and metabolic activity.