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Growth hormone

Roles in male reproduction

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Abstract

Growth hormone (GH), as its name suggests, is obligatory for growth and development. It is, however, also required for sexual differentiation and pubertal maturation and participates in gonadal steroidogenesis and gametogenesis. These roles are likely to reflect the endocrine actions of pituitary GH, directly at gonadal sites and indirectly via hepatic insulin-like growth factor-1. However, because GH is also produced in gonadal tissues, it may act in paracrine or autocrine ways to regulate local processes that are strategically regulated by pituitary GH. The concept that GH is a major regulator of male reproduction is the focus of this review.

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  1. Bishop's University, Lennoxville, Quebec, Canada

    Kerry L. Hull

  2. Department of Physiology, University of Alberta, T6G 2H7, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Steve Harvey

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Hull, K.L., Harvey, S. Growth hormone. Endocr 13, 243–250 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1385/ENDO:13:3:243

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