Plays an important role in growth control. Its major role in stimulating body growth is to stimulate the liver and other tissues to secrete IGF-1. It stimulates both the differentiation and proliferation of myoblasts. It also stimulates amino acid uptake and protein synthesis in muscle and other tissues. Monomer, dimer, trimer, tetramer and pentamer, disulfide-linked or non-covalently associated, in homomeric and heteromeric combinations. Can also form a complex either with GHBP or with the alpha2-macroglobulin complex. Additional isoforms seem to exist. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Available under the names Nutropin or Protropin (Genentech), Norditropin (Novo Nordisk), Genotropin (Pharmacia Upjohn), Humatrope (Eli Lilly) and Saizen or Serostim (Serono). Used for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency and for Turner's syndrome. Circulating GH shows a great heterogeneity due to alternative splicing, differential post-translational modifications of monomeric forms, oligomerization, optional binding to 2 different GH-binding proteins, and potentially proteolytic processing. Belongs to the somatotropin/prolactin family. Growth hormone entry