K. Ho (ed.), Growth Hormone Related Diseases and Therapy: A Molecular and Physiological Perspective for the Clinician, Contemporary Endocrinology, DOI 10.1007/978-1-60761-317-6_2, © Springer Science+Business Media, LLC 2011 Abstract Ghrelin, a 28 amino acid octanoylated peptide predominantly produced by the stomach, was discovered to be the natural ligand of the type 1a growth hormone (GH) secr...

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is no longer a single, omnipotent ovulation triggering option. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist, initially presented as a substitute for hCG, has led to a new era of administering GnRH agonist followed by hCG triggering. According to this new concept, GnRH agonist enables successful ovum maturation, while hCG supports the luteal phase and pregnanc...

The gonadal receptor for luteinizing hormone LH and chorionic gonadotropin was extracted in soluble form from a particulate binding fraction of the interstitial cells of the rat testis by treatment with the nonionic detergent Triton X-100. During binding studies with the soluble receptor and 12ZI-labeled human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), receptor-bound and free forms of the hormone were separ...

Human granulosa cells cultured with calf serum actively proliferated for 18-20 generation and secreted progesterone into the medium; progesterone levels appeared to decline with increase in generation number. Cells cultured under serum-free conditions secreted significant amounts of progesterone and insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II). The progesterone secretion was enhanced by the addition ...

Given the close relationship among neuroendocrine systems, it is likely that there may be common signals that coordinate the acquisition of adult reproductive function with other homeostatic processes. In this review, we focus on central nervous system insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) as a signal controlling reproductive function, with possible links to somatic growth, particularly during p...

Aims Isolated gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) deficiency (IGD) is characterized by delayed or absent sexual development associated with low gonadotropin and sex steroid levels. IGD is classified as Kallmann syndrome (KS) with anosmia and normosmic idiopathic hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (nIHH). This study was undertaken to investigate clinical and endocrinological profiles in patients wi...