Final answer:
Growth Hormone (GH) is a protein-based, non-tropic hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland; it promotes body growth and protein synthesis, regulated by growth hormone-releasing and inhibiting hormones from the hypothalamus.
Step-by-step explanation:
Growth Hormone (GH), also known as somatotropin, is a protein-based hormone produced and secreted by the anterior pituitary gland. It is known for its role in stimulating body growth, cell reproduction, and cell regeneration. GH functions as an anabolic agent, encouraging protein synthesis and tissue growth both through direct and indirect mechanisms.
The regulation of GH involves the growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) and growth hormone-inhibiting hormone (GHIH), also called somatostatin, which are released from the hypothalamus. Unlike some other hormones, GH is not categorized as a tropic hormone; instead, it acts directly on target tissues to promote growth and metabolic functions such as lipolysis and a glucose-sparing effect that increases glucose availability in the body.