Growth hormone (GH) helps control how cells grow, divide, and repair themselves. It is made by the pituitary gland and plays an important role in body growth, especially during childhood.
Here’s how it affects cell division in simple terms:
1. Stimulates cell growth
Growth hormone tells cells to grow larger and make more proteins, which are needed for building new cells and tissues.
2. Promotes cell division
GH activates certain genes inside cells that cause them to divide and multiply.
This helps in the formation of new cells, which leads to the growth of bones, muscles, and organs.
3. Increases energy and nutrients
GH makes the body release more glucose (sugar) and fatty acids, giving cells the energy they need to grow and divide.
4. Works through IGF-1
Growth hormone also signals the liver to produce another hormone called IGF-1 (Insulin-like Growth Factor 1).
IGF-1 directly stimulates cell division in bones, muscles, and other tissues.
In short:
Growth hormone helps cells grow, divide, and repair, mainly by stimulating protein production and IGF-1 release.
This process supports body growth, tissue repair, and development.