Growth hormone secretagogue

Growth Hormone Secretagogue

Growth hormone secretagogue (pronunciation: /ˈgrōTH ˈhôrˌmōn ˌsēkrəˈtäg/), also known as GHS, is a type of drug or substance that triggers the pituitary gland to secrete growth hormone (GH). The term "secretagogue" is derived from the Latin words "secreta" meaning "to separate" and "agogos" meaning "leading", which together imply the function of leading to the secretion of substances.

History and Etymology

The concept of growth hormone secretagogues was first introduced in the late 20th century. The term "secretagogue" is of Latin origin, with "secreta" meaning "to separate" and "agogos" meaning "leading". This term accurately describes the function of these substances, which is to stimulate the secretion of growth hormone from the pituitary gland.

Function

Growth hormone secretagogues function by binding to specific receptors in the pituitary gland, which triggers the release of growth hormone. This hormone plays a crucial role in growth and development, metabolism, and cell regeneration and reproduction.

Types of Growth Hormone Secretagogues

There are several types of growth hormone secretagogues, including ghrelin, synthetic peptides such as GHRP-6 and GHRP-2, and non-peptidyl molecules like MK-677. Each of these substances has a unique mechanism of action, but all function to stimulate the release of growth hormone.

Clinical Use

Growth hormone secretagogues are used in medicine to treat conditions such as growth hormone deficiency, Turner syndrome, and Prader-Willi syndrome. They are also used in research to study the effects of growth hormone on various physiological processes.

Side Effects

Like all drugs, growth hormone secretagogues can have side effects. These may include nausea, headache, joint pain, and fluid retention. Long-term use can lead to more serious side effects, such as diabetes and heart disease.

See Also

• Growth hormone
• Pituitary gland
• Ghrelin
• GHRP-6
• GHRP-2
• MK-677

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Growth hormone secretagogue
• Wikipedia's article - Growth hormone secretagogue

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