What anterior pituitary hormones stimulates growth?

1 Answer
Jul 27, 2016

Growth hormone (GH)

Explanation:

As the name implies, the growth hormone (GH) is involved in stimulating growth and is released from the anterior pituitary. It is also called somatotropin.

The main way in which GH influences growth is by stimulating the production of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1 or somatomedin). IGF-1 in turn promotes bone growth.

Note that prolactin is a related hormone secreted by the anterior pituitary that also has growth stimulating effects, though in a more indirect manner.