or somatotropin
Peptide hormone secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland .
It promotes growth of bone and other body tissues by stimulating protein synthesis and fat breakdown (for energy). Excessive production causes gigantism , acromegaly , or other malformations; deficient production results in dwarfism , dramatically relieved if GH is given before puberty. Genetic engineering techniques now permit large-scale production of adequate amounts of GH for that purpose.