What is the Difference Between Somatostatin and Somatotropin?

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Somatostatin and somatotropin are two peptide hormones that play crucial roles in regulating growth and development. The key differences between them are:

  1. Function: Somatostatin is a growth hormone-inhibiting hormone, while somatotropin, also known as growth hormone (GH), stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration.
  2. Source: Somatostatin is produced by the hypothalamus, while somatotropin is released by the anterior pituitary gland.
  3. Amino Acid Composition: Somatostatin is composed of 14 or 28 amino acid molecules, whereas somatotropin is composed of 191 amino acid molecules.
  4. Regulation: Somatostatin inhibits the release of somatotropin, thus playing an important role in controlling its effects on growth and development.

In summary, somatostatin is an inhibitory hormone that regulates the secretion of somatotropin, which is responsible for promoting growth and development in the body.

Comparative Table: Somatostatin vs Somatotropin

Here is a table highlighting the differences between somatostatin and somatotropin:

Feature Somatostatin Somatotropin
Hormone Type Inhibitory hormone, also known as somatotropin-release inhibiting factor Growth hormone, also known as somatotropin
Function Inhibits secretion of somatotropin and its action Stimulates growth of essentially all tissues of the body
Secretion Site Hypothalamus Pituitary gland
Amino Acids Composed of 14 and 28 amino acid molecules Composed of 191 amino acid molecules

Both somatostatin and somatotropin are peptide hormones that play crucial roles in growth and development. Somatostatin, produced by the hypothalamus, acts as a growth hormone-inhibiting hormone by inhibiting the release of somatotropin from the pituitary gland. Somatotropin, on the other hand, is the human growth hormone that stimulates the growth of all tissues of the body.