Somatotropin or growth hormone (GH), placental lactogen, and related pituitary gland hormones
Growth hormone (GH) or somatotropin is a peptide hormone synthesized by the pituitary gland, which mediates anabolic effects in development. GH is known to activate, via binding to specific cellular receptors, the MAPK/ERK and JAK-STAT signaling pathways. Via the latter, it triggers the secretion of insulin-like growth factor 1 (mostly in the liver). Besides increasing body height, GH has been shown to have a host of other effects.