What is growth hormone-releasing hormone?
Growth hormone-releasing hormone is a hormone produced in the hypothalamus. The main role of growth hormone-releasing hormone is to stimulate the pituitary gland to produce and release growth hormone into the bloodstream. This then acts on virtually every tissue of the body to control metabolism and growth. Growth hormone stimulates production of insulin-like growth factor 1 in the liver and other organs, and this acts on tissues in the body to control metabolism and growth. In addition to its effect on growth hormone secretion, growth hormone-releasing hormone also affects sleep, food intake and memory.
The action of growth hormone-releasing hormone on the pituitary gland is counteracted by somatostatin, a hormone also produced by the hypothalamus, which prevents growth hormone release.