Current studentsExisting staffContact us
 

The growth hormone-insulin like growth factor axis in pregnancy

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorKaur, H.
dc.contributor.authorMuhlhausler, B.S.
dc.contributor.authorRoberts, C.T.
dc.contributor.authorGatford, K.L.
dc.date.issued2021
dc.description.abstractThe growth hormone (GH)-insulin-like growth factor (IGF) axis is one of the main drivers of mammalian growth and development. Pituitary secretion of GH is pulsatile and under positive and negative hypothalamic control, as well as stimulation from gastric-secreted acyl-ghrelin. GH has anabolic and metabolic effects both directly via the GH-receptor (GHR) and indirectly via stimulation of IGF1 production at multiple target tissues. In this review, we describe the major changes to this axis during pregnancy, with increasing GH abundance in the maternal circulation across multiple species. This stimulates secretion of IGFs, whose bioavailability is also increased by proteolytic cleavage of their circulating binding proteins during pregnancy. These changes in turn induce maternal metabolic adaptations to pregnancy and promote placental function and fetal growth, as does exogenous GH or IGF treatment in animal models of normal and compromised pregnancy. Finally, we explore alternative approaches to enhance maternal GH abundance during pregnancy to promote maternal adaptations, placental function and hence fetal growth.
dc.description.statementofresponsibilityHarleen Kaur, Beverly S Muhlhausler, Claire T Roberts and Kathryn L Gatford
dc.identifier.citationJournal of Endocrinology, 2021; 251(3):R23-R39
dc.identifier.doi10.1530/joe-21-0087
dc.identifier.issn0022-0795
dc.identifier.issn1479-6805
dc.identifier.orcidMuhlhausler, B.S. [0000-0002-9021-6790]
dc.identifier.orcidRoberts, C.T. [0000-0002-9250-2192]
dc.identifier.orcidGatford, K.L. [0000-0002-2823-3004]
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/2440/134444
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherBioscientifica Ltd.
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/1083009
dc.relation.granthttp://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/GNT1174971
dc.rights© 2021 Society for Endocrinology Published by Bioscientifica Ltd.
dc.source.urihttps://doi.org/10.1530/joe-21-0087
dc.subjectFetus; growth hormone; IGF; pregnancy; placenta
dc.titleThe growth hormone-insulin like growth factor axis in pregnancy
dc.typeJournal article
pubs.publication-statusPublished

Files

Collections

Medicine publications