1. Growth Harmone
# Effects of hyposecretion of growth hormone
(i) Nanism or ateliosis : Hyposecretion (undersecretion) of growth hormone is childhood results into a blunted growth of body. Growth of all organs is retarded. Growth of bones at their epiphysial ends stops. Hence, the bones do not grow in length, so that the body remains a dwarf. This pituitary dwarfism is called nanism or ateliosis.
Growth of these dwarfs can be normalised if growth hormone is given as a drug to these from the beginning in childhood. Synthetic human growth hormone (hGH) is now being manufactured on commercial scale by DNA-recombinant technique.
(ii) Midgets : Unlike the thyroid cretinism, the development of brain is normal in pituitary dwarfs, but like thyroid cretinism, the pituitary dwarfs are also infertile. The dwarfs of circuses are pituitary dwarfs. these are called midgets.
(iii) Pituitary myxodema : Undersecretion of growth hormone during adolescence (between 13 to 22 years of age) restricts body height, so that the person remains short-statured. Undersecretion after growth period (about the age of 22) causes pituitary myxoedema whose symptoms are almost similar to those of thyroid myxoedema. These include old age symptoms, such as reduced BMR and protein synthesis, graying and falling of hair, pallor and dryness of skin, reduced BP and low body temperature, insomnia, and weakness of muscles, vision and wisdom. Due to accumulation of mucus under the skin, the body becomes puffy, but weak. Genitalia weaken, causing sexual debility. Hence, the person becomes disheartened.
# Effects of hypersecretion of growth hormone
(i) Proportionate gignatism : Hypersecretion (oversecretion of growth hormone during growth period (childhood and adolescence) causes excessive growth (hypergrowth) of all body parts, resulting into a symmetrically giant body. This is called proportionate gigantism.
(ii) Disproportionate gignatism or acromegaly : The concerned person may attain a height of 8 feet or ever more. Oversecretion of growth hormone after growth period also causes gigantism, but in this the long bones do not grow in length due to closed hypophyses at their ends, but the bones of hands, feet, lower jaw and rib cage thicken. Simultaneoulsy, eyelids, lips, tongue, nose, chin, etc also enlarge. Soles, palms and forehead become wrinkled. Skin thickens and becomes wrinkled. Skin thickens and becomes coarse and fluffy (hirsutism). Consequently, the body becomes ugly like a gorilla. This is called disproportionate gigantism or acromegaly. It is common in men and rare in women.
(iii) Kyphosis : In some cases, the backbone bends and thickens, causing hunchback condition (kyphosis). Breasts enlarge and mammary gland may yield milk. The patients often complain of headache, sexual disorders, muscular pain, and impaired vision and memory.
(iv) Diabetes mellitus : Hypersecretion of growth hormone raises blood glucose level (hyperglycemia) which may cause diabetes mellitus.
(v) Ketosis : Increased breakdown of fat may release ketone bodies, mainly acetoacetic acid, in blood, causing ketosis.
2. Prolactin
# Hypersecretion : Prolactin hormone is secreted both in males as well females in males it influence sexual behaviour. Its hypersecretion may hinder menstruation.
- # Hyposecretion : May cause impotency. In pigeons and doves, it stimulates the epithelial cells of crop in both and females to secrete "pigeon milk" for nutrition of newly hatched infants.
1. Growth Harmone
# Effects of hyposecretion of growth hormone
(i) Nanism or ateliosis : Hyposecretion (undersecretion) of growth hormone is childhood results into a blunted growth of body. Growth of all organs is retarded. Growth of bones at their epiphysial ends stops. Hence, the bones do not grow in length, so that the body remains a dwarf. This pituitary dwarfism is called nanism or ateliosis.
Growth of these dwarfs can be normalised if growth hormone is given as a drug to these from the beginning in childhood. Synthetic human growth hormone (hGH) is now being manufactured on commercial scale by DNA-recombinant technique.
(ii) Midgets : Unlike the thyroid cretinism, the development of brain is normal in pituitary dwarfs, but like thyroid cretinism, the pituitary dwarfs are also infertile. The dwarfs of circuses are pituitary dwarfs. these are called midgets.
(iii) Pituitary myxodema : Undersecretion of growth hormone during adolescence (between 13 to 22 years of age) restricts body height, so that the person remains short-statured. Undersecretion after growth period (about the age of 22) causes pituitary myxoedema whose symptoms are almost similar to those of thyroid myxoedema. These include old age symptoms, such as reduced BMR and protein synthesis, graying and falling of hair, pallor and dryness of skin, reduced BP and low body temperature, insomnia, and weakness of muscles, vision and wisdom. Due to accumulation of mucus under the skin, the body becomes puffy, but weak. Genitalia weaken, causing sexual debility. Hence, the person becomes disheartened.
# Effects of hypersecretion of growth hormone
(i) Proportionate gignatism : Hypersecretion (oversecretion of growth hormone during growth period (childhood and adolescence) causes excessive growth (hypergrowth) of all body parts, resulting into a symmetrically giant body. This is called proportionate gigantism.
(ii) Disproportionate gignatism or acromegaly : The concerned person may attain a height of 8 feet or ever more. Oversecretion of growth hormone after growth period also causes gigantism, but in this the long bones do not grow in length due to closed hypophyses at their ends, but the bones of hands, feet, lower jaw and rib cage thicken. Simultaneoulsy, eyelids, lips, tongue, nose, chin, etc also enlarge. Soles, palms and forehead become wrinkled. Skin thickens and becomes wrinkled. Skin thickens and becomes coarse and fluffy (hirsutism). Consequently, the body becomes ugly like a gorilla. This is called disproportionate gigantism or acromegaly. It is common in men and rare in women.
(iii) Kyphosis : In some cases, the backbone bends and thickens, causing hunchback condition (kyphosis). Breasts enlarge and mammary gland may yield milk. The patients often complain of headache, sexual disorders, muscular pain, and impaired vision and memory.
(iv) Diabetes mellitus : Hypersecretion of growth hormone raises blood glucose level (hyperglycemia) which may cause diabetes mellitus.
(v) Ketosis : Increased breakdown of fat may release ketone bodies, mainly acetoacetic acid, in blood, causing ketosis.
2. Prolactin
# Hypersecretion : Prolactin hormone is secreted both in males as well females in males it influence sexual behaviour. Its hypersecretion may hinder menstruation.
- # Hyposecretion : May cause impotency. In pigeons and doves, it stimulates the epithelial cells of crop in both and females to secrete "pigeon milk" for nutrition of newly hatched infants.