Abstract
Growth hormone (GH) is secreted by the pituitary gland, and in addition to its classical functions of regulating height, protein synthesis, tissue growth, and cell proliferation, GH exerts profound effects on metabolism. In this regard, GH stimulates lipolysis in white adipose tissue and antagonizes insulin’s effects on glycemic control. During the last decade, a wide distribution of GH-responsive neurons were identified in numerous brain areas, especially in hypothalamic nuclei, that control metabolism. The specific role of GH action in different neuronal populations is now starting to be uncovered, and so far, it indicates that the brain is an important target of GH for the regulation of food intake, energy expenditure, and glycemia and neuroendocrine changes, particularly in response to different forms of metabolic stress such as glucoprivation, food restriction, and physical exercise. The objective of the present review is to summarize the current knowledge about the potential role of GH action in the brain for the regulation of different metabolic aspects. The findings gathered here allow us to suggest that GH represents a hormonal factor that conveys homeostatic information to the brain to produce metabolic adjustments in order to promote energy homeostasis.
Highlights
Growth hormone (GH) is a single-chain 191 amino acid protein which is mostly secreted by somatotropic cells located in the anterior pituitary gland
Inactivation of GH receptor (GHR) in leptin receptor (LepR)-expressing cells impairs the counter-regulatory response (CRR) to hypoglycemia [80], which is in line with the high degree of co-localization between steroidogenic factor 1 (SF1) and LepR expression in the VMH [90]
It is well known that agouti-related peptide (AgRP)/neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons become activated during calorie restriction and these neurons play an important role in suppressing energy expenditure and inducing hunger [57,58,91]
Summary
Growth hormone (GH) is a single-chain 191 amino acid protein (its major isoform) which is mostly secreted by somatotropic cells located in the anterior pituitary gland. Since the classical target tissues of GH, including the liver, adipose tissue and muscle (Figure 1), are directly involved in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism, it is commonly assumed that the metabolic effects of GH are mediated by these organs Nowadays, it is well-established that the brain plays an important role regulating numerous metabolic aspects [22]. Hypothalamic control of pituitary hormones, including those of the thyroid and adrenal axes, indirectly modulates whole-body metabolism [26,27] In this present review, the current knowledge about the potential role of GH action in the brain for the regulation of different metabolic aspects is summarized, with a special focus on studies produced by our research group
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