Question

How does hGh contribute to homeostatic balance?

Answer 1

The human Growth Hormone (hGH) contributes to homeostatic balance by its direct and indirect actions. It regulates metabolism and growth, stimulating lipolysis and protein synthesis, while its production is controlled by negative feedback loops to maintain proper hormonal levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

How does hGH contribute to homeostatic balance?

The human Growth Hormone (hGH) plays a critical role in maintaining homeostatic balance in the body. hGH, produced by the anterior pituitary gland, has both direct and indirect mechanisms of action that contribute to its homeostatic functions. One of the direct actions of hGH includes stimulating lipolysis, which is the breakdown of triglycerides into free fatty acids, thereby promoting a glucose-sparing effect. Another direct action involves the stimulation of glycogen breakdown in the liver, raising blood glucose levels, a process which also contributes to the glucose-sparing effect in tissues.

The indirect mechanisms of hGH action involve the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) or somatomedins, produced primarily by the liver. IGFs stimulate the uptake of amino acids and synthesis of new proteins, which is crucial after consuming a meal due to elevated levels of glucose and amino acids in the blood. The regulation of GH itself is a homeostatic process governed by two hypothalamic hormones, stimulated by growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and inhibited by growth hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH or somatostatin).

Homeostasis is maintained through negative feedback loops that ensure hormonal concentrations remain within a narrow range. The balanced production of hGH is important as it affects growth and development. An underproduction of GH can lead to pituitary dwarfism, while oversecretion can cause gigantism or acromegaly in adults.

Answer 2

Growth hormone (GH) plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostatic balance. It accelerates protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and bones and regulates blood glucose levels through direct and indirect mechanisms. GH stimulates the breakdown of triglycerides and glycogen, leading to an increase in blood glucose, while also promoting tissue growth through the production of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) by the liver.

Step-by-step explanation:

Growth hormone (GH) is produced by the anterior portion of the pituitary gland and plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostatic balance. GH accelerates the rate of protein synthesis in skeletal muscle and bones, which contributes to the growth and replication of cells in the body. It has both direct and indirect mechanisms of action.

Through its direct actions, GH stimulates the breakdown of triglycerides and glycogen, leading to an increase in blood glucose levels. This glucose-sparing effect helps tissues utilize fatty acids as an energy source instead of glucose. GH's indirect mechanism of action involves stimulating the production of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) by the liver. These IGFs promote tissue growth by stimulating amino acid uptake and new protein formation in target cells.