Final answer:
Growth hormone (GH) is released in response to growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and targets various tissues for growth, especially the liver, muscles, bones, and cartilage through the production of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs).
Step-by-step explanation:
The hormone stimulated for release by growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) that mostly targets the liver, muscles, bones, and cartilage is the growth hormone (GH). GH is produced by the anterior pituitary gland. It facilitates body growth by promoting protein synthesis and stimulating the growth of cells, tissues, and bones.
Growth hormone works both directly and indirectly. The indirect mechanism involves stimulating the liver and other tissues to produce insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), also known as somatomedins. IGFs play a crucial role in tissue growth by enhancing cellular proliferation and increasing the uptake of amino acids for protein synthesis, especially in skeletal muscles and cartilage.
Additionally, GH influences bone growth by triggering chondrocyte proliferation in the epiphyseal plates of long bones and improves bone density through increased calcium retention and osteoblastic activity. Other hormones like thyroxine, estrogen, testosterone, and calcitriol also contribute to the regulation of bone growth and maintenance.